Psilocybin rescues sociability deficits in an animal model of autism
OpenAlex – September 10, 2020
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychology and Neuroscience reveals the hallucinogen psilocybin's potential to normalize social deficits in Autism spectrum disorder. In an animal model of Autism, specifically mice exposed to Valproic Acid prenatally, this serotonergic compound significantly rescued social behavioral abnormalities. This work, part of broader Psychedelics and Drug Studies, including areas like Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, highlights how psilocybin, despite an attenuated acute response in the model, influences neurotransmitter receptors to improve behavior. Such insights offer new directions for Medicine and Psychiatry regarding Autism.
Abstract
Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by core deficits in social interaction. The classic serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin has been suggested as a therapeutic agent that may ameliorate in the core symptomology of ASD. We found that the acute response to psilocybin was attenuated in the prenatal valproic acid exposure mouse model of ASD, and importantly, psilocybin rescued the social behavioural abnormalities present in these ASD model mice.