Toward Translatable Biomarkers of Psychedelic-Induced Neuroplasticity.
American Journal of Psychiatry 2025 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20231054 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine Neuroplasticity |
| Keywords | Sv2a Psychoplastogen Psychedelics/hallucinogens/entheogens Neuroscience/brain-research/neurobiology Mental-health/psychiatry/psychological-treatment Neuroplasticity/brain-plasticity/neural-adaptation |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key findings | New advances in PET imaging could enable measurement of synaptic proteins in humans following psychedelic administration, providing a translatable biomarker of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity. |
Abstract
Numerous preclinical studies have demonstrated that psychedelics promote the growth of cortical neurons in the prefrontal cortex. However, measuring psychedelic-induced structural plasticity in humans has remained a challenge. New advances in positron emission tomography imaging could facilitate the measurement of synaptic proteins in humans following psychedelic administration. Identifying a translatable biomarker of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity would enable patient stratification and determination of optimal dosing paradigms while also facilitating the discovery of novel compounds that produce similar effects on structural neuroplasticity.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on neuroplasticity, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A neurotrophic hypothesis of depression: role of synaptogenesis in the actions of NMDA receptor antagonists | 2012 | Review | |
| Towards an understanding of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity. Review of preclinical and clinical studies | 2023 | Review | |
| Buddha's Brain: Neuroplasticity and Meditation [In the Spotlight] | 2008 | Review | |
| Neuroplasticity as a convergent mechanism of ketamine and classical psychedelics | 2021 | Review | |
| Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Neuroplastic, Immunomodulatory, and Neurotransmitter Mechanisms | 2020 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- The science of psychedelic medicine. Nature Medicine February 6, 2026
- Neurobiology of psilocybin: a comprehensive overview and comparative analysis of experimental models Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience August 5, 2025
- Microdosing Psychedelics to Restore Synaptic Density in Schizophrenia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences September 14, 2025
- Acute and post-acute neurobehavioral responses to lysergic acid diethylamide in healthy subjects: a randomized controlled study Neuropsychopharmacology June 18, 2026
- The mushrooming of the psychedelic renaissance: A scoping review identifying trends in ongoing clinical trials Research Square January 12, 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 20
- Synaptic Dysfunction in Depression: Potential Therapeutic Targets Science October 4, 2012
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Neuron July 5, 2021
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 2020
- A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential. Nature 2021
and 15 more in the library