Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrated that a single dose of psilocybin effectively reduces hypersensitivity and anxiety-depressive behaviors in mouse models of chronic pain. The compound acts centrally in the brain, modulating serotonin receptors to normalize hyperactive neuronal circuits implicated in pain and mood disorders. This finding offers a potential non-opioid, non-addictive therapeutic avenue for addressing co-morbid chronic pain and depression, conditions that frequently exacerbate each other in patients.