Acute effects of a standardised extract of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane mushroom) on cognition and mood in healthy younger adults: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study

Authors:
Geyan Surendran ¹, Jake Saye ², Syahira Binti Mohd Jalil ², Jack Spreadborough ², Kyle Duong ², Israa M Shatwan ³, Dash Lilley ¹, Michael Heinrich ^4,5, Georgina F Dodd ⁶, Shelini Surendran

Year:
2025

Sample Size:
18 participants (10 male, 8 female)

Design:
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial

Population:
Healthy adults aged 18–35 years, without psychiatric, neurological, or chronic medical conditions

Intervention:
A single 3 g dose of 10:1 Hericium erinaceus fruiting body extract (ethanol/water extracted, spray-dried, 95% extract, 5% maltodextrin), administered as a beverage mixed with lemon squash and water. The extract was produced in China. Control drink matched for taste and appearance.

Methods:
Cognition and mood were assessed before and 90 minutes after intervention using:

• Cognitive tests: Trail Making Test A/B, Digit Span, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Grooved Pegboard Test (dominant/non-dominant hands), Deary-Liewald Task, and Flanker Task
• Mood assessment: PANAS questionnaire (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule)
  Composite z-scores were computed for global cognition and mood, with individual test scores also analyzed.

Main Findings:

• No significant effect on composite measures of global cognitive function or mood.
• Significant improvement post-H. erinaceus consumption in pegboard tasks (dominant and non-dominant hands), indicating enhanced psychomotor performance and manual dexterity.
• Worsening observed in Flanker Task and Trail Making Test B, suggesting possible impairment in executive function.
• No significant effects on PANAS mood scores.
• Several effects were trends rather than statistically robust, and the small sample size limits broader conclusions.

Conclusion:
A single 3 g dose of H. erinaceus fruiting body extract yielded mixed cognitive effects in healthy younger adults. While psychomotor performance improved, executive function declined in some domains. No mood-enhancing effects were observed. Results suggest that acute effects may be task-specific and that chronic supplementation or different time intervals may be necessary to observe broader benefits.