Carhart-Harris and colleagues have shown that 5-HT2A receptor activation triggers downstream BDNF transcription in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Their 2026 Nature Communications paper provides the first clean human structural evidence: a single 25 mg psilocybin dose produces compacting in prefrontal-subcortical white matter a month later — consistent with either pruning or new under-myelinated growth — and increases in well-being are mediated by next-day insight rather than driven directly by the acute neural effect. Read the full monograph →
The two neurotrophins
The brain runs two separate signaling systems for keeping its infrastructure alive: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). They're related, they overlap, and they're often lumped together in marketing copy — but biologically they do different jobs.
BDNF is the maintenance and optimization signal. It strengthens existing synapses (the connections between neurons), improves the speed of signal transmission, and is heavily implicated in learning, memory consolidation, and stress resilience. When you read that exercise is "good for the brain," what you're really reading about is BDNF.
NGF is the construction signal. It's the molecule that triggers growth of new dendrites (the input branches of neurons), maintenance of axons (the output cables), and proper formation of myelin (the insulation that lets signals travel fast). NGF is what builds the highway. BDNF is what optimizes the traffic on it.
BDNF
Supports synaptic plasticity, learning, memory consolidation, and adaptive neural signaling — the optimization side of neurogenesis.
NGF
Supports nerve growth factor pathways, neurite outgrowth, and nervous system maintenance — the construction side of neurogenesis.
Why hitting both matters
Single-pathway formulas — Lion's Mane alone, or Active Botanical alone — produce real but limited gains. You either get better function on the wiring you have (BDNF only) or new wiring with no particular instructions for how to use it (NGF only). The dual-pathway approach is what produces the kind of cognitive change people notice over months rather than weeks.
NEUROGENESIS earns its name by hitting both pathways at therapeutic doses — Lion's Mane (NGF) at 200mg of a 7:1 extract, plus Active Botanical (BDNF) at 100mg in a sub-perceptual ceremonial dose.
What the research actually shows
The Mori et al. (2009) RCT on Lion's Mane in adults with mild cognitive impairment showed measurable improvement on the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale at 16 weeks of consistent dosing. Subsequent systematic reviews have confirmed efficacy at therapeutic extract levels — meaning ratio-concentrated, not whole-mushroom-powder.
BDNF research is broader and older. Carhart-Harris and others have demonstrated 5-HT2A receptor activation triggers downstream BDNF transcription in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The therapeutic relevance of this depends on dose and consistency — the sub-perceptual ceremonial range produces measurable BDNF upregulation without the acute experiential effects of higher doses.
How to read this on a label
- Look for extract ratio on Lion's Mane — anything below 7:1 is questionable; "fruiting body extract" without a ratio is usually whole powder
- Hericenones (in fruiting body) and erinacines (in mycelium) are the active compounds — both stimulate NGF, but only fruiting body is third-party verifiable
- Combined formulas should specify both compounds separately, not bundle them as "neurotrophic blend"
For the full ingredient breakdown of NEUROGENESIS — Lion's Mane 200mg (7:1, ≡1,400mg raw), Active Botanical 100mg, Cordyceps 150mg (8:1), Shilajit 100mg — see the product page.