Dextromethorphan (DM) is an FDA-approved treatment for major depressive disorder when combined with bupropion. DM functions as an inhibitor for 5-HT membrane transporters and antagonist for sigma-1 receptors (S1Rs) and NMDA receptors, which are pharmacological actions potentially therapeutically relevant for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study examined DM and compounds...
Science AdvancesMay 27, 2026Matthew B. Phillips, Nadya V. Povysheva, Elizabeth G. Neureiter et al.
N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs) are key mediators of calcium ion (Ca2+) influx required for proper neuronal function. Excessive NMDAR-mediated Ca2+ influx is neurotoxic and associated with neurological disease. Memantine and ketamine, two NMDAR antagonists with overlapping binding sites in the NMDAR channel, are of high clinical interest. Whereas memantine is a well-tolerated...
Treatment-resistant depression is a condition with significant morbidity, despite the current standard of treatment, including traditional pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, augmentation strategies and electroconvulsive therapy. While novel therapies have emerged, such as ketamine/esketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation and psilocybin-assisted therapy, the uptake of these treatments is...
A medição e quantificação precisas da consciência humana permanecem um dos desafios mais significativos na neurociência e física modernas. As Interfaces Cérebro-Computador (ICCs) tradicionais focam na decodificação de intenções motoras localizadas, tratando o cérebro como um gerador de comandos isolado. Baseando-se no conceito de Schrödinger de vida como organização informacional, no Princípio...
This chapter is designed to offer a comprehensive overview of five core psychedelic medicines—ketamine, psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and ayahuasca—highlighting their distinct pharmacological properties, cultural origins, therapeutic applications, and clinical research. Although each substance offers a unique entry point into expanded states of consciousness, they share a common potential to catalyze...
Diminished drive is one of the core symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis, yet its underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive, primarily due to a lack of appropriate animal models. We developed a novel Multilevel Exploration Test (MET) apparatus to evaluate exploratory behavior, which is captured as a dynamic, stage-dependent process involving "search", "attend/investigate",...
Recent literature suggests potential associations between hallucinogen use and valvular heart disease (VHD) due to prolonged activation of serotonin 5-HT2B receptors, which may lead to valvular fibrosis – a condition also linked to drugs including fenfluramine and pergolide. Despite these concerns, epidemiological studies exploring this association are lacking. This exploratory analysis...
Zusammenfassung Die Psychedelika-assistierte Therapie (PAT) hat sich in den letzten Jahren zu einem der dynamischsten Forschungsfelder der Psychiatrie entwickelt. Während die beste Evidenz bisher für depressive Störungen und posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen vorliegt, wird PAT zunehmend auch bei anderen nicht-psychotischen Störungen untersucht. Jenseits der Symptomlinderung rückt die...
Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) affects a significant proportion of individuals with major depressive disorder and remains difficult to manage with conventional treatments. Psychedelic-assisted therapies and neuromodulation have emerged as innovative interventions targeting neurobiological mechanisms beyond traditional antidepressant approaches. Objectives: This scoping review...