Journal of Science Policy & Governance
July 2, 2026
Alaina M Jaster, Joseph J. Hennessey, Tanner L. Anderson et al.
Research on Schedule I substances in the United States remains heavily restricted by the regulatory structure imposed by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This regulatory system creates significant Research Harm, which can be defined as the restriction or deterrence of legitimate scientific inquiry arising from governmental actions, such as regulatory controls or criminal prohibitions that...
Molecular Pharmacology
2026
Lindsay P. Cameron, Alaina M Jaster, Raul A Ramos et al.
3 citations
2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) is a phenethylamine psychedelic with high affinity for 5-HT2 receptors. In 2022 and 2023, the US Drug Enforcement Administration proposed to place DOI, along with a similar compound, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine, in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act based on their psychoactivity and alleged abuse potential. Here, we describe the history of...
Nature Communications
November 20, 2025
Alaina M Jaster, Thomas M Hadlock, Belle Buzzi et al.
9 citations
Emerging evidence suggests that classical psychedelics may offer therapeutic potential for opioid use disorder (OUD) by alleviating key hallmarks such as altered reward processing and dependence. However, the mechanisms behind these effects remain unclear. Our data demonstrate that a single administration of the psychedelic psilocybin (PSI) reduces conditioned behavior and withdrawal induced by...
Neuropsychopharmacology
November 12, 2025
Hannah M. Kramer, Meghan Hibicke, Jason W. Middleton et al.
7 citations
Activation of serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors is thought to underly the long-lasting antidepressant effects of psychedelics such as psilocybin, but beyond that, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved are not well understood. Recent preclinical studies using mice have primarily examined relatively short time points after psychedelic administration, which does not address the long-lasting...
Pharmacological Research
May 1, 2025
Eda Koseli, Belle Buzzi, Torin Honaker et al.
11 citations
Chronic pain is a debilitating disease with current treatments lacking efficacy and safety, therefore discovery of new treatments is crucial. Initial studies suggest that psychedelics may be feasible for targeting pain, however clinical and preclinical controlled studies are necessary to further investigate that possibility. In this study we assessed the effects of two classical psychedelics...
Psychedelics
December 17, 2024
Alaina M Jaster
Dr. Alaina M. Jaster is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University. She currently serves on the trainee editorial board of Psychedelic Medicine, the journal for the International Society for Research on Psychedelics (ISRP), and is part of the Society's Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility committee. Jaster is also part...
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
November 8, 2023
Lindsay P. Cameron, Joseph Benetatos, Vern Lewis et al.
88 citations
Serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin and LSD, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their potential therapeutic effects and unique mechanisms of action. These compounds exert their primary effects through activating serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, found predominantly in cortical regions. By interacting with these receptors, serotonergic psychedelics induce alterations in...
Molecular Psychiatry
September 1, 2023
Alaina M Jaster, Javier González-Maeso
50 citations
Psychedelics, also known as classical hallucinogens, have been investigated for decades due to their potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders. The results from clinical trials have shown promise for the use of psychedelics to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as to promote substantial decreases in the use of nicotine and...
Schizophrenia
2023
Alaina M Jaster, Javier González-Maeso
Head-twitch response (HTR) allows for the detection and classification of behavior associated with serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT_2AR) activation upon psychedelic administration in rodent models. This activation and functional output can be utilized to provide insights into molecular mechanisms associated with psychosis and to identify signaling processes related to existing and novel...
Neuroscience Letters
September 25, 2022
Alaina M Jaster, Jason Younkin, Travis Cuddy et al.
53 citations
Psychedelics, also known as classical hallucinogens, affect processes related to perception, cognition and sensory processing mostly via the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR). This class of psychoactive substances, which includes lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, mescaline and the substituted amphetamine 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), is receiving renewed...
Psychopharmacology
June 1, 2022
Alaina M Jaster, Harrison Elder, Samuel A Marsh et al.
41 citations
Clinical studies suggest that psychedelics exert robust therapeutic benefits in a number of psychiatric conditions including substance use disorder. Preclinical studies focused on safety and efficacy of these compounds are necessary to determine the full range of psychedelics' effects. The present study explores the behavioral pharmacology of structurally distinct psychedelics in paradigms...
Journal of Neurochemistry
November 6, 2021
Alaina M Jaster, Mario de la Fuente Revenga, Javier González-Maeso
28 citations
Abstract Psychedelic research across different disciplines and biological levels is growing at a remarkably fast pace. In the prospect of a psychedelic drug becoming again an approved treatment, much of these efforts have been oriented toward exploring the relationship between the actual psychedelic effects and those manifestations of therapeutic interest. Considering the central role of the...