Biology
October 28, 2023
Blerida Banushi, Vince Polito
26 citations
Psychedelic substances may offer therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders by acting through specific cellular mechanisms. This review describes how these compounds primarily signal through the 5-HT2A receptor and promote neural plasticity via the TrkB-BDNF pathway. It also covers their effects on other receptors and pathways, as well as their potential anti-inflammatory properties. The work highlights a promising direction for developing new mental health treatments.
Biology
August 17, 2021
Lourdes Poyatos, Esther Papaseit, Eulàlia Olesti et al.
26 citations
Methylone, a synthetic cathinone and beta-keto analogue of MDMA, produces acute subjective and physiological effects similar to MDMA but less intense. In an observational-naturalistic study of 14 healthy poly-drug users who self-administered oral doses (methylone 100-300 mg, mean 187.5 mg; MDMA 75-100 mg, mean 87.5 mg), methylone showed a prototypical psychostimulant and empathogenic profile. Oral fluid concentrations of both substances peaked at 2 hours, with MDMA levels matching those from controlled studies. The findings indicate that methylone's abuse potential is comparable to MDMA's in recreational users.
Biology
March 24, 2021
Nunzia La Maida, Esther Papaseit, Lucía Martínez de Soto et al.
14 citations
Synthetic cannabinoid UR-144, monitored by the EU Early Warning System since 2012 for severe adverse effects, shows a similar cardiovascular profile to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but with less intense subjective effects. In an observational study, 16 volunteers smoked joints containing either UR-144 (1 or 1.5 mg) or cannabis (10 or 20 mg THC). Both substances significantly increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. UR-144 produced lower scores on visual analog scales for stimulant-like and high effects compared to cannabis, and no hallucinogenic effects were observed. UR-144 was detectable in oral fluid, peaking at 20 minutes after smoking, offering a non-invasive biomarker of consumption. These preliminary findings require confirmation in larger samples.
Biology
January 25, 2026
Claire A. Rice, Robert W. Stackman
Ketamine administration protocols vary widely and are used to model psychotic-like behavior in rodents. This review compares classic and contemporary studies using different dosing regimens, focusing on behavioral tasks and analytical methods that validate psychosis-like and schizophrenia-like symptoms. Acute ketamine protocols are best suited for addiction research or as a preliminary step before longer studies. Repeated, sub-chronic, or chronic administration yields more comprehensive models of psychosis-like behavior and is better for examining enduring cognitive and neurobiological impairments. Intravenous or intraperitoneal administration at frequent intervals or as a bolus may sustain higher bioavailable ketamine levels, producing a more robust psychosis-like phenotype relevant for studying long-term cognitive and neurological dysfunction.
Biology
April 1, 2025
F. R. Azarias, Gustavo Henrique Doná Rodrigues Almeida, Luana Felix de Melo et al.
The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a brain network active during rest, supporting self-reflection, emotional processing, social interaction, and mental exploration. It is not exclusive to humans and appears in non-human animals, indicating evolutionary importance. The DMN shapes cognitive and emotional abilities during childhood and adolescence and continues to influence brain function through adulthood. Understanding the DMN's structural, functional, and evolutionary aspects can deepen knowledge of how the brain supports thinking, behavior, and mental health, potentially leading to more effective treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions.
Biology
October 12, 2021
Vic Norris
The role of bacteria in understanding subjective experiences, or qualia, is often overlooked. The author proposes that living systems, including bacteria, generate sequences of active states that guide behavior through a process called competitive coherence, which involves competition between a Next process and a Now process. Bacteria are key to linking the mental and physical worlds because they evolved first, are highly complex, influence animal behavior, and dominate Earth. Competitive coherence in bacteria, brains, and other living systems is inseparable from qualia. These qualia become especially important for generating active states at the highest levels of living systems, such as ecosystems and the planet.