The mechanistic divide in psychedelic neuroscience: An unbridgeable gap?
Neurotherapeutics January 25, 2024 Bryan R. Barksdale, Manoj K. Doss, Gregory A. Fonzo et al. 22 citations
Psychedelics show promise as treatments for severe psychiatric disorders, especially those resistant to standard therapies. Their effects arise from receptor binding and downstream changes in cells and genes, altering brain structure and function from individual neurons to large-scale circuits. This perspective reviews evidence on how psychedelics produce acute and lasting changes in consciousness, linking molecular, cellular, circuit, and psychological levels. A key controversy is that theoretical models from different levels of inquiry often conflict. Bridging these explanations through innovative methods and collaboration is essential to fully harness psychedelics' therapeutic potential.