Neural mechanisms underlying psilocybin’s therapeutic potential – the need for preclinical in vivo electrophysiology
Journal of Psychopharmacology May 30, 2022 Rebecca Smausz, Joanna C. Neill, John Gigg 60 citations
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound, alters perception, emotion, and cognition and shows promise for treating brain disorders. This review outlines current understanding of its neurophysiology, focusing on its effects on brain regions within the default-mode network, especially the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which likely mediate its consciousness-altering properties. The authors describe specific receptor and cell types involved and note contradictory neuroimaging evidence regarding psilocybin's net effect on activity in these regions.