Psilocybin mitigates the cognitive deficits observed in a rat model of Fragile X syndrome.
Psychopharmacology January 1, 2023 Valeria Buzzelli, Emilia Carbone, Antonia Manduca et al. 20 citations
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited intellectual disability and the leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Serotonin, involved in brain development and synaptic remodeling, may be insufficient during childhood in these disorders, worsening behavioral and emotional symptoms. This study tested psilocybin, a serotonin-modulating compound, in adolescent Fmr1-Δexon 8 rats—a model of both ASD and FXS. Systemic and oral microdoses of psilocybin normalized the rats' performance on the novel object recognition test, a measure of exploratory behavior, perception, and recognition. The results suggest that psilocybin may help ameliorate cognitive deficits associated with ASD and FXS.