Classical and non-classical psychedelic drugs induce common network changes in human cortex.
Rui Dai, Tony E. Larkin, Zirui Huang, Vijay Tarnal, Paul Picton, Phillip E. Vlisides, Ellen Janke, Amy McKinney, Anthony G. Hudetz, Richard E. Harris, George A. Mashour
Neuroimage June 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120097 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Humans |
| Interventions | Nitrous oxide Ketamine Lysergic acid diethylamide |
| Topics | Ketamine LSD |
| Keywords | Cortex Functional connectivity Nitrous oxide FMRI Psychedelics Brain connectivity Consciousness research Neuroimaging |
| Citations | 49 |
| Key findings | Both classical and non-classical psychedelics reduce within-network functional connectivity and enhance between-network functional connectivity, particularly in the posterior cortical hot zone. |
Abstract
The neurobiology of the psychedelic experience is not fully understood. Identifying common brain network changes induced by both classical (i.e., acting at the 5-HT2 receptor) and non-classical psychedelics would provide mechanistic insight into state-specific characteristics. We analyzed whole-brain functional connectivity based on resting-state fMRI data in humans, acquired before and during the administration of nitrous oxide, ketamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide. We report that, despite distinct molecular mechanisms and modes of delivery, all three psychedelics reduced within-network functional connectivity and enhanced between-network functional connectivity. More specifically, all three drugs increased connectivity between right temporoparietal junction and bilateral intraparietal sulcus as well as between precuneus and left intraparietal sulcus. These regions fall within the posterior cortical "hot zone," posited to mediate the qualitative aspects of experience. Thus, both classical and non-classical psychedelics modulate networks within an area of known relevance for consciousness, identifying a biologically plausible candidate for their subjective effects.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increased Global Functional Connectivity Correlates with LSD-Induced Ego Dissolution. Human participants | 2016 | Observational cohort | |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. USA adult respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 190,000 |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
| Whole-Brain Multimodal Neuroimaging Model Using Serotonin Receptor Maps Explains Non-linear Functional Effects of LSD. Healthy human participants | 2018 | Observational study with computational modeling |
Citations in the library
Cited by 42
- Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain. Nature August 1, 2024
- Therapeutic mechanisms of psychedelics and entactogens. Neuropsychopharmacology July 24, 2023
- Mechanisms and molecular targets surrounding the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics. Molecular Psychiatry September 1, 2023
- The Montreal model: an integrative biomedical-psychedelic approach to ketamine for severe treatment-resistant depression Frontiers in Psychiatry September 19, 2023
- A Comprehensive Review of the Current Status of the Cellular Neurobiology of Psychedelics Biology October 28, 2023
and 37 more in the library
Cites 16
- Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems Nature Reviews Neuroscience April 20, 2016
- Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences April 11, 2016
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
- Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Scientific Reports April 19, 2017
- Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine Journal of Neuroscience November 30, 2020
and 11 more in the library