Ayahuasca-enhanced extinction of fear behaviour: Role of infralimbic cortex 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors.
British journal of pharmacology June 1, 2024 Isabel Werle, Laura M M Nascimento, Aymee L A Dos Santos et al. 21 citations
A single oral dose of ayahuasca containing 0.3 mg/kg of DMT increased within-session extinction of contextual freezing behavior in rats without affecting recall; two consecutive daily doses enhanced extinction recall. These effects occurred for both 1- and 21-day-old memories in males and females, independent of changes in anxiety or general exploratory activity. Blocking 5-HT2A receptors in the infralimbic cortex prevented within-session extinction, while blocking 5-HT1A receptors prevented between-session extinction. The findings highlight complementary mechanisms by which ayahuasca facilitates behavioral suppression of aversive memories, suggesting potential benefits for stress-related disorders.