Visual hallucinations originating in the retinofugal pathway under clinical and psychedelic conditions.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology August 1, 2024 Zeus Tipado, Kim P C Kuypers, Bettina Sorger et al. 5 citations
Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin alter perception by activating serotonin receptors in cortical and subcortical brain regions, often causing visual disturbances or hallucinations. While current theories focus on disrupted communication between these brain areas, rare conditions like Charles Bonnet syndrome suggest the retinofugal pathway may also play a key role. Interneurons in the retina called amacrine cells could be the first site of psychedelic modulation, disrupting how visual information is hierarchically processed. This paper presents a new theory of psychedelic modulation in the retinofugal pathway, drawing parallels with clinical conditions to explain visual perceptual changes.