Transient destabilization of whole brain dynamics induced by N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
Communications biology March 11, 2025 Juan Ignacio Piccinini, Yonatan Sanz Perl, Carla Pallavicini et al. 6 citations
The transition into a psychedelic brain state is often overlooked in favor of static descriptions of acute effects. Using a time-dependent whole-brain model and fMRI data from 15 volunteers given intravenous DMT, the work shows that a transient of heightened reactivity in fronto-parietal regions and visual cortices correlates with serotonin 5HT2a receptor density. Simulated perturbations suggest that minimal disturbances can achieve maximal effects during this brief period, and the temporal evolution of these features aligns with pharmacokinetics. These findings indicate a mechanism for how short psychedelic episodes may exert a lasting influence over time.