Dorsal Raphe Revisited: A Systems Neuroscience Lens on Psychedelic Drug Action
Psychedelic Medicine April 9, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1177/28314425261429232 via OpenAlex
Summary
The review discusses the historical context and findings related to classical psychedelics, particularly LSD, and their effects on serotonin-producing neurons in the midbrain raphe. Initial studies indicated that LSD suppresses the firing of these neurons, but over time, understanding evolved to connect neural activity with behavior. The commentary highlights how early research established a foundation for exploring the neurophysiological mechanisms of psychedelics.
Study at a glance
| Design | review |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Early studies suggested serotonergic neurons could drive hallucinogenic effects, but understanding shifted to relate neural activity to behavior. |
Abstract
Psychedelics rose to prominence in the 1960s, around the same time when neurobiologists identified the midbrain raphe as the brain’s primary source of serotonin. It is therefore no surprise that early studies on classical psychedelics like d -lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) focused on their effects within this brainstem nucleus. This review traces the arc of discovery: from the initial report in 1968 that LSD suppresses the firing of serotonergic neurons in the rat midbrain raphe, through more than 15 years of intensive work dissecting the pharmacology and receptor mechanisms. Early hypotheses erroneously suggested the serotonergic neurons as potential drivers of the acute hallucinogenic effects, but the conceptual framework gradually shifted after relating neural activity to behavior. We conclude this brief commentary by revisiting these early findings in light of current knowledge of the serotonergic circuits. Collectively, the pioneering studies laid the foundation for thinking about how psychedelics act on the brain through the lens of neurophysiology.