Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), known in the Netherlands as the ‘wig mushroom’, is a remarkable mushroom that is attracting increasing attention in research into the brain, concentration and cognitive health. It is particularly the bioactive compounds hericenones and erinacines that make Lion’s Mane of interest to scientists.
From memory and concentration to nerve growth factors and neuroplasticity: what makes Lion’s Mane so interesting for the brain?
Lion’s Mane is instantly recognisable by its long, white spines, which are reminiscent of a lion’s mane.
This mushroom has long been eaten and used in traditional Asian medicine. These days, it is attracting particular attention for its unique bioactive compounds.
These include hericenones and erinacines.
Preclinical research suggests that certain compounds found in Lion’s Mane may influence processes involved in Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and the development and maintenance of nerve cells. NGF plays an important role within the nervous system and is involved, amongst other things, in the growth, maintenance and plasticity of certain neurons.
That is one of the main reasons why Lion’s Mane is currently attracting so much interest in brain research.
Lion’s Mane is attracting a great deal of attention, particularly due to the possible link between its bioactive compounds and processes in the brain. In particular, hericenones and erinacines are being investigated for their potential impact on Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), nerve cells and neuroplasticity.
This makes Lion’s Mane an interesting subject for research into, amongst other things, cognition, memory, attention and the nervous system. The scientific evidence base is growing, with mechanistic and preclinical research in particular having expanded significantly, whilst the number of human studies is also increasing.
It is precisely this combination of traditional use and modern neuroscience that makes Lion’s Mane one of the most extensively researched functional mushrooms in the field of brain health and cognitive function.
One of the key areas of research into Lion’s Mane is its potential link to cognitive function and the brain.
And there are now human studies on this as well.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving older adults with mild cognitive impairment, improvements on a cognitive scale were observed whilst taking Lion’s Mane.
Another randomised study investigated 12 weeks’ use of Lion’s Mane and also found evidence of improvement in certain cognitive functions.
Interestingly, Lion’s Mane is now also being studied in younger, healthy adults.
A small double-blind pilot study conducted in 2023 found improved performance on a cognitive task after a single dose and a trend towards reduced stress levels after 28 days. The researchers do, however, emphasise that this was a small study.
So the overall picture is interesting: Cognition is one of the key areas in which Lion’s Mane is currently being researched.
Cognitive performance, of course, involves much more than just memory.
Attention, reaction speed, information processing and the ability to stay focused are all part of how we use our brains on a daily basis.
Would you like to gain a better understanding of how attention works, why our focus wanders and what happens when we switch between tasks? Then read Focus: Why Your Attention Doesn’t Always Do What You Want.
Research is also being carried out into this.
A clinical study into various natural extracts found that Lion’s Mane led to improvements in measures including working memory, complex attention and reaction time.
It should be noted, however, that not every study finds the same effects. For example, a recent double-blind study from 2025 found no general acute improvement in cognition or mood, although better performance was observed on one specific motor task.
That is precisely what makes Lion’s Mane an interesting subject for further research: the effects may well depend on extract, duration of use, target group and the specific cognitive domain.
Focus and cognitive flexibility also play a role in creative processes. You may also wish to read our in-depth article on Microdosing and creativity.
Perhaps the most fascinating area of research into Lion’s Mane is its relationship with the nervous system.
Our brains are not static.
They are able to adapt to new information and experiences throughout our lives. We call this ability neuroplasticity.
NGF and other neurotrophic factors play an important role in this. They are involved in processes such as neuronal development, synaptic transmission, learning and plasticity.
Bioactive compounds from Lion’s Mane are being investigated in preclinical studies because of their potential influence on such neurotrophic processes.
This raises an interesting research question:
That is why scientists are investigating whether Lion’s Mane might influence the processes involved in the brain’s ability to adapt.
There is still much to discover about it, but it is one of the reasons why Lion’s Mane holds such a special place amongst medicinal mushrooms.
Lion’s Mane is not only being studied for its effects on cognitive function.
The potential impact on nerve cells and neurite growth has attracted a great deal of scientific interest.
Laboratory and animal studies have identified effects on, amongst other things, NGF synthesis, neurite growth, neuro-inflammatory processes and various mechanisms involved in nerve health.
This is promising fundamental research.
However, this does not mean that Lion’s Mane simply “repairs” damaged nerves in humans. Much of this mechanistic research is still at the pre-clinical stage.
Another interesting area of research is mood and stress.
A small placebo-controlled study involving 30 women found that, after four weeks of taking Lion’s Mane, there were changes in questionnaire scores relating to, amongst other things, mood and certain subjective symptoms.
In the aforementioned pilot study involving healthy young adults, a trend towards reduced subjective stress was also observed after 28 days.
This field of research is still in its infancy, but it shows that scientists are looking beyond just memory and concentration.
Lion’s Mane is more than just a popular wellness trend: research into the mushroom has now been carried out in both human and pre-clinical studies.
At the same time, the human trials are still relatively small.
A systematic review from 2025 brought together five randomised controlled trials, three clinical pilot studies and several preclinical studies. The results show promising indications regarding cognitive functions, but also confirm that further well-designed human studies are needed.
A previous review of human studies on mushrooms and neurocognition reached a similar conclusion: Lion’s Mane, in particular, showed promising results for mood and cognitive function, but the findings from intervention studies were not all consistent.
For us, that’s precisely what makes Lion’s Mane so interesting:
a traditional mushroom, the bioactive compounds of which modern science is increasingly seeking to understand in terms of their effects on the body.
Because of this special relationship with cognition and the nervous system, Lion’s Mane has a special place within Wise Rootz.
You can find Lion’s Mane in our Focus Force tincture, in which we combine various botanical extracts and functional mushrooms within a single, targeted formula.
In addition, Lion’s Mane is part of the Full Focus Microdosing Box.
In that respect, the mushroom fits in well with our broader philosophy: not searching for a single magic ingredient, but consciously looking at routine, focus, reflection and the elements that form part of such a ritual.
Discover the Full Focus Microdosing Box →
Lion’s Mane is particularly interesting because of bioactive compounds such as hericenones and erinacines. These are being studied in relation to Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), nerve cells and cognitive processes. It is precisely this combination that makes Lion’s Mane one of the most interesting functional mushrooms in modern brain research.
There have been human studies in which positive changes have been observed in certain cognitive measures, including aspects of memory, attention and reaction time. The results are promising, but have not yet been consistent across all studies. As a result, Lion’s Mane remains primarily an interesting ingredient within a broader approach to focus and lifestyle.
Hericenones and erinacines are characteristic bioactive compounds found in Lion’s Mane. They are the subject of considerable scientific interest due to their potential link to NGF and processes relating to nerve cells and neuroplasticity.
There is now both human and preclinical research into Lion’s Mane, with interesting findings regarding cognition, nerve cells and mental balance. The scientific evidence base is growing, but the research is still relatively new and larger human studies are needed to further substantiate the findings.
Your brain continues to adapt throughout your life.
That is precisely why the research into Lion’s Mane is so interesting.
From hericenones and erinacines to NGF, cognition and neuroplasticity: modern science is gaining an ever-better understanding of why this ancient mushroom is attracting so much interest.
For us, Lion’s Mane is therefore more than just a trend.
It is one of the most interesting edible mushrooms at the intersection of nature, cognition and modern neuroscience.
This blog is intended to provide general, educational information about Lion’s Mane and scientific research, and does not constitute medical advice. Dietary supplements and botanical extracts are not a substitute for a varied diet, a healthy lifestyle or medical treatment. Are you taking any medication, are you pregnant or breastfeeding, or do you have a medical condition? If so, please discuss the use of supplements or concentrated extracts with a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional beforehand.
Scientific Sources
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Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. The health benefits of the Yamabushitake mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research.2009;23(3):367–372. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634.
Saitsu Y, Nishide A, Kikushima K, Shimizu K, Ohnuki K. Improvement in cognitive function following oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomedical Research. 2019;40(4):125–131. doi:10.2220/biomedres.40.125.
Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF. The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Pilot Study. Nutrients.2023;15(22):4842. doi:10.3390/nu15224842.
Surendran G, Saye J, Binti Mohd Jalil S, Spreadborough J, Duong K, Shatwan IM, Lilley D, Heinrich M, Dodd GF, Surendran S. 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. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025;12:1405796. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1405796.
Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, Hayashi C, Sato D, Kitagawa K, Ohnuki K. Reduction in depression and anxiety within 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomedical Research. 2010;31(4):231–237. doi:10.2220/biomedres.31.231.
Cha S, Bell L, Shukitt-Hale B, Williams CM. A review of the effects of mushrooms on mood and neurocognitive health throughout the lifespan. Neuroscience & Biobehavioural Reviews. 2024;158:105548. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105548.
Menon A, Jalal A, Arshad Z, Nawaz FA, Kashyap R. Benefits, side effects and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic review. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025;12:1641246. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1641246.
