Chronic, Intermittent Microdoses of the Psychedelic N , N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Produce Positive Effects on Mood and Anxiety in Rodents
Lindsay P. Cameron, Charlie J. Benson, Brian C. Defelice, Oliver Fiehn, David E. Olson
ACS Chemical Neuroscience March 4, 2019 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00692 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Male rats |
| Intervention | DMT |
| Dose | low doses |
| Topics | Anxiety 5-MeO-DMT DMT |
| Keywords | Mood Pharmacology Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 163 |
| Key points | Chronic, intermittent low doses of DMT produced an antidepressant-like phenotype and enhanced fear extinction learning in male rats. |
Abstract
-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The behavioral and cellular effects of this dosing regimen were distinct from those induced following a single high dose of the drug. We found that chronic, intermittent, low doses of DMT produced an antidepressant-like phenotype and enhanced fear extinction learning without impacting working memory or social interaction. Additionally, male rats treated with DMT on this schedule gained a significant amount of body weight during the course of the study. Taken together, our results suggest that psychedelic microdosing may alleviate symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, though the potential hazards of this practice warrant further investigation.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on DMT, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hallucinogen N,N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Is an Endogenous Sigma-1 Receptor Regulator Mice and cell lines | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Correlation between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response assay and their behavioral and subjective effects in other species. C57BL/6J mice | 2020 | Experimental study with dose-response experiments | |
| 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 | |
| Inhibitory effect of chlorpromazine on the syndrome of hyperactivity produced by l‐tryptophan or 5‐methoxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine in rats treated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor Rats | 1971 | Experimental study | |
| Effects of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine on Rat Behaviors Relevant to Anxiety and Depression Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats | 2018 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 141
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics May Not Be Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 2020
- Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG. Scientific Reports November 19, 2019
- Towards an understanding of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023
- 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
- Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine Journal of Neuroscience November 30, 2020
and 136 more in the library
Cites 48
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future. Neuropsychopharmacology April 26, 2017
- Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Scientific Reports October 13, 2017
and 43 more in the library