LSD 5-HT2A receptor occupancy and global functional connectivity effects
OpenAlex – January 01, 2026
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
LSD demonstrates high occupancy at the brain’s serotonin 2A receptor, a key neuroscience finding. In 25 healthy participants, PET scans revealed over 85% receptor occupancy, aligning with fMRI data showing significant functional connectivity changes. Computer science methods, including advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, processed these complex brain imaging datasets for both LSD and psilocybin. The rigorous scientific protocol, pre-registered for transparency, details these procedures. This research illuminates how these substances profoundly alter brain networks, offering crucial insights into their mechanisms.
Abstract
This figure presents LSD occupancy at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) and global functional connectivity effects in healthy human participants for LSD and psilocybin. PET and fMRI acquisition, preprocessing, and statistical modelling procedures were pre-registered and are described in detail in the study protocol available on medRxiv (https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.17.25329677).