Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, produced head twitch responses in adult rats but not in adolescent rats. Adult female rats in diestrus showed more head twitches after psilocybin than those in proestrus, indicating that hormonal phase influences the response. Adolescent exposure to psilocybin did not cause lasting changes in anxiety-like behavior or behavioral flexibility. No age- or estrous-related differences were found in 5-HT2A receptor expression in the medial prefrontal cortex. These results show age- and sex-dependent differences in psychedelic effects and emphasize the need for inclusive research that accounts for age, sex, and hormonal status.
The paper examines six distinct claims within the embodied cognition viewpoint, which holds that cognitive processes are rooted in the body's interactions with the world. The first three claims—that cognition is situated, time-pressured, and off-loaded onto the environment—and the fifth claim, that cognition is for action, appear at least partially true and are best evaluated by their range of applicability. The fourth claim, that the environment is part of the cognitive system, is argued to be deeply problematic. The sixth claim, that off-line cognition is body-based, has received the least attention but may be the best documented and most powerful.