Mind over matter: the microbial mindscapes of psychedelics and the gut-brain axis.
Giorgia Caspani, Simon Ruffell, WaiFung Tsang, Nigel Netzband, Cyrus Rohani-Shukla, Jonathan R Swann, Wilfred A Jefferies
Pharmacological Research September 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107338 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | 5-MeO-DMT Ayahuasca DMT Ketamine Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | 2 3 5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine doi Dimethyltryptamine DMT Gut microbiota Gut-brain axis N-Dimethyltryptamine 5-MEO-DMT Personalised medicine Precision medicine Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Gut-brain connection Microbiome |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | The gut microbiota may mediate or modulate the behavioral effects of psychedelics, and future research should consider microbiome contributions. |
Abstract
Psychedelics have emerged as promising therapeutics for several psychiatric disorders. Hypotheses around their mechanisms have revolved around their partial agonism at the serotonin 2 A receptor, leading to enhanced neuroplasticity and brain connectivity changes that underlie positive mindset shifts. However, these accounts fail to recognise that the gut microbiota, acting via the gut-brain axis, may also have a role in mediating the positive effects of psychedelics on behaviour. In this review, we present existing evidence that the composition of the gut microbiota may be responsive to psychedelic drugs, and in turn, that the effect of psychedelics could be modulated by microbial metabolism. We discuss various alternative mechanistic models and emphasize the importance of incorporating hypotheses that address the contributions of the microbiome in future research. Awareness of the microbial contribution to psychedelic action has the potential to significantly shape clinical practice, for example, by allowing personalised psychedelic therapies based on the heterogeneity of the gut microbiota.