5-MeO-DMT induces sleep-like LFP spectral signatures in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of awake rats.
Annie C. Souza, Bryan C. Souza, Arthur França, Marzieh Moradi, Nicholy C. Souza, Katarina E. Leão, Adriano B. L. Tort, Richardson N. Leão, Vítor Lopes-Dos-Santos, Sidarta Ribeiro
Scientific Reports May 17, 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61474-9 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Freely behaving rats |
| Intervention | 5-MeO-DMT |
| Topics | 5-MeO-DMT DMT |
| Keywords | Hippocampal oscillations Prefrontal cortex Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psychoactive drugs Brain patterns Sleep Brain activity |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | 5-MeO-DMT induces hippocampal and prefrontal cortex local field potential patterns similar to sleep states, independent of locomotion. |
Abstract
5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a potent classical psychedelic known to induce changes in locomotion, behaviour, and sleep in rodents. However, there is limited knowledge regarding its acute neurophysiological effects. Local field potentials (LFPs) are commonly used as a proxy for neural activity, but previous studies investigating psychedelics have been hindered by confounding effects of behavioural changes and anaesthesia, which alter these signals. To address this gap, we investigated acute LFP changes in the hippocampus (HP) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of freely behaving rats, following 5-MeO-DMT administration. 5-MeO-DMT led to an increase of delta power and a decrease of theta power in the HP LFPs, which could not be accounted for by changes in locomotion. Furthermore, we observed a dose-dependent reduction in slow (20-50 Hz) and mid (50-100 Hz) gamma power, as well as in theta phase modulation, even after controlling for the effects of speed and theta power. State map analysis of the spectral profile of waking behaviour induced by 5-MeO-DMT revealed similarities to electrophysiological states observed during slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Our findings suggest that the psychoactive effects of classical psychedelics are associated with the integration of waking behaviours with sleep-like spectral patterns in LFPs.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on 5-MeO-DMT, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine modulate innate and adaptive inflammatory responses through the sigma-1 receptor of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Human primary monocyte-derived dendritic cells | 2014 | In vitro study | |
| Effects of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine on Rat Behaviors Relevant to Anxiety and Depression Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats | 2018 | Experimental study | |
| Hallucinogen-like actions of 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine in mice and rats. Mice and rats | 2006 | Preclinical study | |
| Agonist Properties of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine at Serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C Receptors Rats and transfected fibroblasts | 1998 | Experimental study | |
| Subtypes of the 5-HT receptor mediating the behavioural responses to 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in the rat Intact rats and rats depleted of monoamines with reserpine | 1985 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Complex slow waves in the human brain under 5-MeO-DMT. Cell Reports July 22, 2025
- Complex slow waves radically reorganise human brain dynamics under 5-MeO-DMT bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) October 7, 2024
- The Intersection of Psychedelics and Sleep: Exploring the Impacts on Sleep Architecture, Dream States, and Therapeutic Implications ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science May 15, 2025
- Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians—5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine American Journal of Therapeutics February 20, 2026
Cites 26
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- Enhanced repertoire of brain dynamical states during the psychedelic experience Human Brain Mapping July 3, 2014
- Psychedelics and the Human Receptorome PLoS One 2010
- Phenomenology, Structure, and Dynamic of Psychedelic States Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences 2016
- Correlation between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response assay and their behavioral and subjective effects in other species. Neuropharmacology May 1, 2020
and 21 more in the library