The Kappa Opioid Receptor and the Sleep of Reason: Cortico-Subcortical Imbalance Following Salvinorin-A.
The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology January 12, 2022 Genís Ona, Frederic Sampedro, Sergio Romero et al. 17 citations
Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists like salvinorin-A produce psychotomimetic effects through largely unknown mechanisms. In a double-blind, crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled study, acute administration of salvinorin-A increased delta and gamma brain waves while decreasing alpha waves, as measured by electroencephalography. Single-photon emission computed tomography revealed significant decreases in regional cerebral blood flow across frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices, with increases in the medial temporal lobe, amygdala, hippocampal gyrus, and cerebellum. Subjective effects resembled other psychotomimetic drugs but were distinctly dissociative, with no dysphoria reported. KOR agonism by salvinorin-A induces dramatic psychotomimetic effects alongside generalized reductions in cortical blood flow and electrical activity.