The cranial windows of perception
UNC Libraries – June 12, 2024
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin acts as a rapid, enduring antidepressant. It quickly promotes the formation of new connections, called dendritic spines, in critical brain neurons. This rapid neural remodeling offers a cellular explanation for its therapeutic power, potentially reshaping how the brain processes information and alters perception. Understanding these intricate changes, often visualized through advanced computer graphics, relies heavily on computer science. This work provides fundamental insights into how psilocybin fundamentally rewires the brain, impacting our very perception of the world.
Abstract
Psilocybin has emerged as a potentially rapidly acting antidepressant with enduring actions. In this issue of Neuron, Shao et al. (2021) show that psilocybin quickly induces dendritic spine formation in cortical layer V pyramidal neurons. These results provide a potential cellular substrate for psilocybin's therapeutic actions.