Psychedelic research must be grounded in pharmacology
Nature Neuroscience December 24, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-02186-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | The field's growth has led to a lack of appreciation for its history and a misunderstanding of psychedelic pharmacology, which must be corrected for responsible advancement. |
Abstract
Psychedelic science is growing rapidly and offers great promise for exciting new therapies, but this rapid growth has brought growing pains. These include a lack of appreciation of the history of the field and what has already been accomplished, and a lack of understanding of the pharmacology of psychedelics and 5-HT_2A receptors. These gaps must be recognized, acknowledged and addressed in order for the field to advance responsibly.
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- 5-HT2A receptors: Pharmacology and functional selectivity. Pharmacological Reviews April 23, 2025
- Complex discriminative stimulus properties of (+)lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in C57Bl/6J mice Psychopharmacology January 11, 2005
- Perspectives of Pharmacology over the Past 100 Years. Handbook of experimental pharmacology 2019
- Hallucinogens. Pharmacology & Therapeutics February 1, 2004
- 5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)2A receptors in rat anterior cingulate cortex mediate the discriminative stimulus properties of d-lysergic acid diethylamide. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics February 2007