Neuropharmacology - The Consciousness Library

MDMA administration reduces ethanol drinking and is associated with altered nociceptin and dynorphin system gene expression in alcohol-preferring rats.

Neuropharmacology September 11, 2026 Laura Rullo, Loredana Maria Losapio, Hela Mrizak et al.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents a major public health challenge, with current pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments showing limited efficacy. Recent clinical evidence suggests that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy may be effective for AUD, although concerns remain regarding its safety and potential for recreational use. This study investigated the effects of MDMA administration on...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.111187 Full text

N,N-dimethyltryptamine elicits antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in helpless mice: a comparative study with S-ketamine.

Neuropharmacology July 1, 2026 Anne Nathalia De Sousa-Silva, Clarissa de Almeida Moura, Carina Ioná De Oliveira Torres et al. 1 citation

N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is an naturally occurring indoleamine with hallucinogenic and antidepressant effects in humans. Here, we compared the effects of DMT and S-ketamine, a fast-acting antidepressant, in helpless mice. To induce helplessness, male single and group-housed mice were exposed to inescapable footshock stress; only helpless animals were subsequently treated with S-ketamine 10...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.110947 Full text Anxiety Depression Animal models Mouse +2

Thalamic 5-HT2A receptor activation reduces GABA uptake, increases tonic GABAA inhibition and induces absence seizures in Wistar rats.

Neuropharmacology June 11, 2026 Vincenzo Crunelli, Tatiana P Morais, William M Connelly et al.

Renewed interest in psychedelic therapeutics has brought serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) back into focus. Given the role of the thalamus in sensory integration and network synchronization, we examined the expression, developmental regulation, and functional impact of thalamic 5-HT2ARs, with particular emphasis on their interaction with extrasynaptic GABAA receptors and the generation of...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.111073 Full text Absence epilepsy Nucleus reticularis thalami Selective serotonin ligands Tonic gabaa current +1

Role of accumbens medium spiny neurons subtypes in reinstatement to ketamine cues in male and female Long Evans rats.

Neuropharmacology June 6, 2026 Devin P Hagarty, Adam Dawoud, Alfonso Brea Guerrero et al.

Ketamine, a non-competitive N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor antagonist, was approved for use with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) and is currently in clinical trials for treating substance use disorder (SUD), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, ketamine is an addictive drug, and thus we need to better understand ketamine's mechanism of action in addiction to reliably assess the...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.111067

Unveiling the role of single versus repeated low-dose ketamine in attenuating doxorubicin-induced chemobrain and depression in rats: differential modulation of neuroinflammation, phosphorylated GLT-1, SERT, DAT, and BDNF/TrkB signaling.

Neuropharmacology June 1, 2026 Nehal G. Fahmy, Nada M. Kamel, Mahmoud M. Khattab et al.

Unveiling the role of single versus repeated low-dose ketamine in attenuating doxorubicin-induced chemobrain and depression in rats: differential modulation of neuroinflammation, phosphorylated GLT-1, SERT, DAT, and BDNF/TrkB signaling.

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.111055

Dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and glutamate balance in the nucleus accumbens shell: Differential effects of cannabinoid 1 receptor agonists Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, AM11101, and AM8936.

Neuropharmacology June 1, 2026 Evan C Smith, Christos Iliopoulos-Tsoutsouvas, Markos-Orestis Georgiadis et al.

Despite being the most prevalently abused illicit drug class, the neurochemical effects of cannabinoids (CBs) in key reward-related brain regions are not fully understood. Here, we used in vivo microdialysis combined with liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry to delineate how single, intraperitoneal injections of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), and synthetic partial (AM11101) and full...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.110891 Full text Addiction Accumbens Cannabinoid Conditioned place preference +2

Cerebellar Kv2.1 Downregulation, Cytoarchitectural Alterations, and Persistent Motor Impairments Following Subchronic Phencyclidine Exposure.

Neuropharmacology June 1, 2026 L. Lagojda, Leah MacGregor, Mahfuza Maisha et al.

Dysfunction of the cerebellum is increasingly recognised as a contributor to schizophrenia. As one of the most ubiquitous voltage-gated potassium channels in the brain, the expression and function of Kv2.1 remains underexplored in the cerebellum, and its potential involvement in cerebellar pathophysiology in schizophrenia is unknown. Here, we characterised the expression pattern of Kv2.1 in the...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.111075 Full text

Olfactory bulb circuits drive ketamine-enhanced high-frequency oscillations via kainate and GABAergic mechanisms.

Neuropharmacology May 6, 2026 Taisiia Prosvirova, Wiktoria Podolecka, Jacek Wróbel et al.

Ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects accompanied by marked changes in fast brain rhythms. High-frequency oscillations (HFO; 130-180 Hz) are an increasingly recognized signature of ketamine across species. However, their relationship to classical gamma activity and their circuit-level organization remain unclear. Using simultaneous multiregion recordings in freely moving male Wistar...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.111012 Full text Ketamine Gaba-a receptor Gamma oscillations High-frequency oscillations hfo +3

Adolescent cannabinoid vapour exposure sex-dependently alters the relationship between vulnerability traits and ethanol self-administration and modifies naltrexone actions on ethanol intake in rats.

Neuropharmacology May 1, 2026 Jairo S Acosta-Vargas, Natalia De Las Heras-Martínez, Alberto Marcos et al.

Cannabis use during adolescence is common and may predispose individuals to substance use disorders. Animal studies have explored the gateway hypothesis, but data on ethanol consumption are limited. This study aimed to investigate the potential link between adolescent cannabis exposure and ethanol self-administration, as well as the relationship between predisposing behavioural traits and...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.110843 Full text

Brain-penetrant microtubule-stabilizer epothilone B delays isoflurane-induced unconsciousness in mice.

Neuropharmacology April 1, 2026 Yixiang Huang, Zitong Qiu, Xinyue Yu et al. 2 citations

Inhalational anesthetics are currently believed to cause unconsciousness by acting on multiple molecular targets including neural ion channels, receptors, mitochondria, synaptic proteins, and cytoskeletal proteins. Inhalational anesthetics including isoflurane bind to cytoskeletal microtubules (MTs), potentially contributing to causing unconsciousness. This possibility is supported by our...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.110834 Full text

Beyond the toad's kiss: Mapping acute 5-MeO-DMT effects on brain connectivity across sex and dose using awake rat neuroimaging

Neuropharmacology March 6, 2026 Noah Cavallaro, Priya Rai, David Akins et al. 1 citation

To our knowledge, this is the first fMRI characterization of 5-MeO-DMT in any species, and it reveals a previously unreported sex difference in psychedelic response. The rapid onset and brief duration of peak effects align with 5-MeO-DMT's unique pharmacological profile and clinical reports.

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.110886 Wakefulness Brain mapping Anesthesia Functional connectivity +2

N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is neither formed nor retained in serotonin terminals in the rat brain

Neuropharmacology February 9, 2026 Mikael Palner, Elisabeth Kolesnik, Christina Baun et al.

Mammalian brain may contain an endogenous pool of the psychedelic substance N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which may act as a co-transmitter with serotonin (5-HT). We tested the joint hypotheses. We tested the joint hypotheses that endogenous DMT would accumulate in rat brain after inhibiting monoamine oxidase with pargyline, whereas its acidic metabolite 3-indoleacetic acid (3-IAA) would...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.110874 Full text Serotonin Harmine Endogeny Pargyline +16

Repeated administration of the synthetic cannabinoid AKB48 induces serotonergic neuroadaptation in male and female mice: behavioural and immunohistochemical evidence.

Neuropharmacology February 1, 2026 Giorgia Corli, Fabrizio De Luca, Sabrine Bilel et al. 1 citation

In the last years, Synthetic Cannabinoids (SCBs) have established themselves as one of the largest and most popular groups of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), being frequently detected in biological samples of patients involved in intoxication and death cases. To date, compelling evidence on the potential interaction between SCBs and non-cannabinoid neurotransmission systems has emerged,...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110758 Full text 25i-nbome pubchem cid 2c-i pubchem cid 5-ht2a receptors Akb48 pubchem cid +5

Psilocin mediates long-term synaptic depression in the prelimbic cortex through 5-HT2A receptor-independent mechanisms

Neuropharmacology January 21, 2026 Ana Domi, Erika Lucente, Davide Cadeddu et al. 1 citation

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound with potential antidepressant effects. Although it has long been used by humans, primarily for recreational purposes, the molecular mechanisms underlying its actions remain incompletely understood. Here, we examined the acute effects of psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, on excitatory neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.110854 Serotonergic Infralimbic cortex Neurotransmission Glutamatergic +5

Exploring the effects of microdosing on health behaviour change.

Neuropharmacology 2026 Luisa Prochazkova, Laura C. Carvalho, Natasza Marrouch et al.

While microdosing psychedelics is increasingly popular for enhancing well-being, its effects on health behavior change (HBC) remain poorly understood. This study investigated self-reported health-related behavior changes and putative underlying psychological mechanisms associated with psychedelic microdosing in a naturalistic setting. A retrospective mixed-method survey was conducted with 365...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110688 Full text Microdosing Health-behavioral-change Mixed-methods Psychological mechanisms

Qualitative content analysis of expectations in participants with depression about to begin LSD microdosing treatment: Identifying the need for psychedelic expectancy measures.

Neuropharmacology December 1, 2025 Carina Joy Donegan, Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno, Tehseen Noorani et al. 4 citations

Expectations can impact antidepressant treatment and psychedelic therapy, often enhancing placebo effects and influencing outcomes. However, research in this context is lacking. Our study explored the expectations of participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) before microdosing lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in an open-label trial. Twenty-three individuals with MDD completed a...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110670 Full text Depression LSD Microdosing Expectancy +4

Age- and estrous-dependent effects of psilocybin in rats.

Neuropharmacology November 15, 2025 Alexia L Zylko, Ryan J. Rakoczy, Brianna F Roberts et al. 4 citations

Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound in "magic" mushrooms, has promise as a novel treatment for psychiatric disorders, many of which are more prevalent in females and have onsets during adolescence. However, there is a lack of research about how factors such as sex and age affect responses to psilocybin, as well as potential safety concerns with developmental exposure. The primary objectives of...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110619 Full text

LSD microdosing in major depressive disorder: results from an open-label trial

Neuropharmacology November 5, 2025 Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno, C Donegan, Rachael Sumner et al. 4 citations

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects approximately 5 % of the global population. Classic psychedelics have shown promise in treating various mental health disorders. This study evaluated the feasibility and tolerability of an 8-week regimen of microdosed lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) as a treatment for major depressive disorder in an open-label phase 2A trial (LSDDEP1). Nineteen...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110762 Anxiety Major depressive disorder Tolerability Adverse effect +9

Microdosing psilocybin and its effect on creativity: Lessons learned from three double-blind placebo controlled longitudinal trials

Neuropharmacology November 2, 2025 Luisa Prochazkova, Josephine Marschall, Michiel van Elk et al. 2 citations

BackgroundTaking very small doses of psychedelics (LSD, truffles) over an extended period became prevalent in Western societies for its alleged cognitive benefit, including enhanced creativity. However, in the absence of robust, double-blind-controlled quantitative studies, such claims remain anecdotal.MethodsHere we present results from 3 double-blind placebo-controlled longitudinal trials...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110732

Cognitive and subjective effects of psilocybin microdosing: Results from two double-blind placebo-controlled longitudinal trials

Neuropharmacology October 17, 2025 Luisa Prochazkova, Josephine Marschall, Dominique P. Lippelt et al. 3 citations

ObjectiveMicrodosing psychedelics has been widely reported to enhance focus and problem-solving, sparking interest in its potential to treat attentional disorders such as ADHD. However, existing studies largely rely on anecdotal evidence and lack adequate placebo control.MethodsThis study contributes to the literature by examining the longitudinal effects of microdosing psilocybin truffles in...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110722 Psilocybin Cognition Hallucinogen Cognitive assessment system +3

The first applications of mescaline in psychiatry: The case of Madame Louise Françoise R. and its contemporary relevance

Neuropharmacology October 15, 2025 Marion Hendrickx, Antoine Dampierre, Emmanuel Drouin 1 citation

At the beginning of the 20th century, while psychiatric knowledge remained limited, some physicians were already exploring innovative experimental paths. This article presents an unpublished clinical case of a patient, Madame Louise Françoise R., treated with mescaline in 1930 by Henri Claude and Henri Ey at Sainte-Anne in Paris, four years before their official publication on the subject. The...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110707 Mescaline Ambivalence Perspective graphical Relevance law +5

Chronic psilocybin administration increases sociability and alters the gut microbiome in male wild-type mice but not in a preclinical model of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Neuropharmacology August 21, 2025 James J Gattuso, Geraldine Kong, Bilgenur Bezcioglu et al. 7 citations

Psilocybin, a serotonergic compound that produces psychedelic effects primarily through activation of the 5-HT2A receptor, has shown promise in treating neuropsychiatric conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the effects of chronic psilocybin administration on gut function, microbiota, and behavioural phenotypes remain understudied. The present study investigated...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110648 Psilocybin Gut microbiome Obsessive compulsive Clinical psychology

Exploring serotonergic psychedelics as a treatment for personality disorders.

Neuropharmacology July 1, 2025 Brennan M. Carrithers, Daniel E. Roberts, Brandon M Weiss et al. 4 citations

Both psychotherapeutic interventions and pharmacological agents have demonstrated limited efficacy in the treatment of personality disorders (PDs). Emerging evidence suggests that psychedelic therapy, already showing promise in treating various psychiatric conditions commonly comorbid with PDs, may exert therapeutic effects by promoting adaptive changes in personality. Thus, psychedelic therapy...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110413 Full text Psychedelic drugs Character disorders Magic mushroom therapy Personality disorders +6

Esketamine mitigates endotoxin-induced hippocampal injury by regulating calcium transient and synaptic plasticity via the NF-α1/CREB pathway.

Neuropharmacology May 15, 2025 Mu Xu, Jialiang Wang, Jia Shi et al. 4 citations

Esketamine (ES) has been shown to confer neuroprotection partly by exerting anti-inflammation, alleviating oxidative stress, enhancing neuronal vitality, and promoting synaptic remodeling. Nonetheless, its precise function in SAE and the associated mechanisms are not understood. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective potential of ES at behavioral, structural, and functional levels...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110362 Full text Esketamine Synaptic plasticity Creb Calcium transients +6

Esketamine ameliorates prenatal stress-induced postpartum depression and sex-related behavioral differences in adolescent progeny.

Neuropharmacology May 15, 2025 Yazhou Wen, Jin Zhou, Huiling Yu et al. 2 citations

Prenatal stress leads to postpartum depression and is associated with developmental issues in offspring. Esketamine quickly and effectively prevents or treats postpartum depression. However, the long-term effects of esketamine on progeny development are unknown. CRS during pregnancy was used to establish the postpartum depression animal model. After confirming pregnancy, all mice were randomly...

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110354 Full text Chronic restraint stress Postpartum depression ppd Postnatal depression Psychiatric care +2

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