Psychedelic drugs like LSD acutely reduce low-frequency electrical activity across the brain in rats, but these changes return to baseline after 24 hours. However, brain stimulation applied 24 hours after LSD—a period of heightened neuroplasticity—produces larger and distinct shifts in brain activity compared with stimulation alone. This suggests that even after the acute effects of LSD have faded, latent effects remain that can interact with brain stimulation to alter brain states. These proof-of-concept findings indicate that psychedelic drugs could work in combination with brain stimulation to achieve enhanced effects on brain activity, with future studies needed to assess impacts on behavior.
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) acutely reduces low-frequency electrical activity across the brain in rats, an effect that returns to normal after 24 hours. However, brain stimulation applied during a window of heightened neuroplasticity 24 hours after LSD produces larger and distinct changes in brain activity compared to stimulation after a placebo. This proof-of-concept finding suggests that psychedelic drugs may work in combination with brain stimulation to achieve enhanced effects on brain activity, with future work needed to assess impacts on behavior.
Pretreating rats with LSD before electrically stimulating the infralimbic cortex produces larger and longer-lasting changes in brain activity than stimulation alone. The combination activates the mTOR signaling pathway and alters perineuronal net integrity, suggesting a mechanism for enhanced neuroplasticity. Brain activity during stimulation did not predict the persistent changes seen minutes or days later. These findings support developing psychedelic-assisted brain stimulation approaches to improve durability of stimulation effects, potentially reducing relapse rates in clinical treatments.
Pretreating rats with LSD before electrically stimulating the medial prefrontal cortex produces larger and longer-lasting changes in brain activity than stimulation alone. The combination activates the mTOR signaling pathway and alters perineuronal net integrity. Brain activity during stimulation does not predict the persistent brain state afterward. These findings support developing psychedelic-assisted brain stimulation to increase durability of stimulation effects, potentially reducing relapse rates in non-invasive stimulation treatments.