Psilocybin Enhances Cued Fear Extinction and Extinction Recall in Stress-Naïve, Acutely Stressed, and Chronically Stressed Mice
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science September 11, 2025 Noelle Cataldo, John A. Razidlo, Cody J. Wenthur 2 citations
Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, enhanced fear extinction and improved extinction recall 24 hours later in male mice, regardless of whether they were stress-naïve or had been exposed to acute or chronic stress beforehand. Psilocybin transiently increased the stress hormone corticosterone in stress-naïve mice but not in previously stressed animals. The findings suggest psilocybin can promote fear extinction across different stress backgrounds, supporting its potential therapeutic relevance for disorders like PTSD where prior stress is a key factor.