Lysergic acid diethylamide induces increased signalling entropy in rats’ prefrontal cortex
Aurora Savino, Charles D. Nichols
Journal of Neurochemistry November 3, 2021 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15534 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Prefrontal cortex of rats chronically treated with LSD |
| Intervention | lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) |
| Duration | Chronic treatment |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Prefrontal cortex Signalling |
| Citations | 18 |
| Key findings | Chronic LSD treatment rewires gene co-expression networks in the rat prefrontal cortex, making them less centralized but more complex with increased signaling entropy, mirroring increased brain entropy seen in human neuroimaging studies. |
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs are gaining attention from the scientific community as potential new compounds for the treatment of psychiatric diseases such as mood and substance use disorders. The 5‐HT 2A receptor has been identified as the main molecular target, and early studies pointed to an effect on the expression of neuroplasticity genes. Analysing RNA‐seq data from the prefrontal cortex of rats chronically treated with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), we describe the psychedelic‐induced rewiring of gene co‐expression networks, which become less centralised but more complex, with an overall increase in signalling entropy typical of highly plastic systems. Intriguingly, signalling entropy mirrors, at the molecular level, the increased brain entropy reported through neuroimaging studies in human, suggesting the underlying mechanisms of higher‐order phenomena. Moreover, from the analysis of network topology, we identify potential transcriptional regulators and propose the involvement of different cell types in psychedelics’ activity. image
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on LSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain. Nature August 1, 2024
- Psychedelic-Induced Neural Plasticity: A Comprehensive Review and a Discussion of Clinical Implications. Brain Sciences January 25, 2025
- Pattern breaking: a complex systems approach to psychedelic medicine Neuroscience of Consciousness 2023
- The Hallucinogenic Serotonin2A Receptor Agonist, 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Iodoamphetamine, Promotes cAMP Response Element Binding Protein-Dependent Gene Expression of Specific Plasticity-Associated Genes in the Rodent Neocortex Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience December 24, 2021
- Modulation of DNA methylation and protein expression in the prefrontal cortex by repeated administration of D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): Impact on neurotropic, neurotrophic, and neuroplasticity signaling Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry June 28, 2022
and 8 more in the library
Cites 38
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
and 33 more in the library