Classic psychedelics typically act at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor to profoundly alter brain function and consciousness. Research on these compounds has accelerated. Major strides have been made in understanding their unique mechanisms of action and clinical potential. This Review outlines the state of psychedelic science, spanning cellular mechanisms, systems neuroscience and clinical...
Serotonergic psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide, and psilocybin, and the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine exhibit agonist activity at the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2B receptor, a signalling pathway known to mechanistically mediate drug-induced valvular heart disease. This systematic review evaluates whether chronic or repeated use of psychedelics and...
LSD is a psychedelic drug known for its ability to alter perception and psychological functioning by acting on the serotonin 2A receptor. Historically, LSD and other psychedelics were used in psychiatry, and there is currently a resurgence of interest in their therapeutic potential. Recent studies suggest that psychedelic therapy, often involving the patient lying down with closed eyes and...
Psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produce rapid, enduring therapeutic effects in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the underlying cellular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study investigated whether adult myelin plasticity contributes to the therapeutic actions of psilocybin and MDMA in a rat model of contextual fear conditioning. Adult male...
Classic serotonergic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin show promising antidepressant effects in controlled trials, but real-world data from routine clinical care remain limited. This study retrospectively analysed routine data from adults with treatment-resistant depressive and/or anxiety disorders who received a first standardized Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) cycle with 100...
Millions of people worldwide experience hallucinations caused by psychoactive substances.These hallucinations are a serious problem for both health care and society.The main culprits are hallucinogens like psilocybin, phencyclidine (PCP), methamphetamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).These substances lead to perceptual changes characterized by sensory experiences that happen without any...
Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), have emerged as potent modulators of neuroplasticity and metaplasticity in the adult brain, offering novel therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent findings reveal that beyond their transient psychotropic effects, these compounds activate serotonin 5-HT2A receptors...
The claustrum, a subcortical structure densely expressing 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 A (5-HT2A) receptors, has been implicated in sensory integration, emotional regulation, salience, and attention. Despite its hypothesized involvement in the effects of serotonergic psychedelics, the neurochemical impact of these substances on claustral neurotransmission remains unexplored. This study aimed to...
Clinical investigations into the therapeutic actions of psilocybin have been the focus of much attention in recent years as duly cited in the manuscript.The authors of the present manuscript discuss potential targets through which psilocybin may help prevent suicide using computational network pharmacology coupled with molecular docking investigations.Unfortunately, the manuscript contains the...
This preprint presents The Last Dream, a theoretical model aimed at interpreting the subjective experience that may occur in the seconds immediately following cardiac arrest and preceding irreversible neuronal failure. Drawing on convergent evidence from physics of time, neuroscience, neurochemistry, and psychedelic research, the model explores the plausibility of a transient terminal state...