Brain Research Bulletin
March 11, 2016
Elisabet Domínguez‐clavé, Joaquim Soler, Matilde Elices et al.
220 citations
Psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca show remarkable potential in treating anxiety, with studies revealing up to a 60% reduction in symptoms among participants. In a sample of 200 individuals undergoing therapy with these substances, 70% reported significant improvements in mental health. Neuroscience and pharmacology intersect as psychedelics enhance psychological well-being by altering brain chemistry. Additionally, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has been linked to transformative experiences under the guidance of psychotherapists, highlighting the therapeutic promise of these hallucinogens in modern medicine.
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
May 17, 2017
Frederic Sampedro, Mario de la Fuente Revenga, Marta Valle et al.
205 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew, alters brain chemistry and connectivity in ways that may explain its lasting psychological effects. The findings point to glutamate neurotransmission playing a role in how psychedelics work in humans. Neurometabolic changes in the posterior cingulate cortex, a hub of the default mode network, along with increased connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex and medial temporal lobe structures involved in emotion and memory, likely underlie the post-acute psychological effects of ayahuasca.
Psychopharmacology
July 19, 2016
Kim P. C. Kuypers, Jordi Riba, Mario de la Fuente Revenga et al.
204 citations
Ayahuasca enhances creative divergent thinking and appears to increase psychological flexibility, which may aid psychotherapeutic interventions and support clinical trial efforts.
Scientific Reports
July 7, 2017
José Á. Morales-García, Mario de la Fuente Revenga, Sandra Alonso‐gil et al.
173 citations
The three main alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi—harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline—along with the harmine metabolite harmol, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro. In neurospheres from adult mouse brain progenitor cells, all compounds increased neural stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation into adult neurons. This suggests that modulation of brain plasticity may contribute to the antidepressant effects of ayahuasca and expands potential applications of these alkaloids to other brain disorders benefiting from stimulation of endogenous neural precursor niches.
Scientific Reports
October 3, 2019
Mario de la Fuente Revenga, Jong M. Shin, Hiba Vohra et al.
57 citations
A fully automated system detects head-twitch behavior (HTR) in mice, a behavioral marker of psychedelic drug action at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. The system was validated using the psychedelic DOI in mice lacking the 5-HT2A receptor and by evaluating false-positive and false-negative events. Automation enabled efficient time-course studies. Pharmacological interactions between the 5-HT2A receptor and metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) were explored: the mGluR2/3 antagonist LY341495 potentiated DOI-induced HTR, while the mGluR2/3 agonist LY404039 blocked it. This system can accelerate understanding of 5-HT2A receptor pharmacology and its behavioral outputs in rodents.
Journal of Neurochemistry
November 6, 2021
Alaina M. Jaster, Mario de la Fuente Revenga, Javier González‐maeso
28 citations
Psychedelic research is accelerating across disciplines and biological levels. Much of this work explores how psychedelic effects relate to therapeutic benefits, with the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor central to understanding their impact on human psychology. This review discusses recent human studies and places them in the context of earlier preclinical research on synaptic plasticity. It highlights knowledge gaps, challenges, and limitations in evaluating how psychedelics may produce antidepressant effects.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
February 25, 2021
Mario de la Fuente Revenga, Bohan Zhu, Christopher A. Guevara et al.
11 citations
preprint
A single dose of the psychedelic DOI produces rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects by altering chromatin organization at enhancer regions of genes involved in synaptic assembly in the frontal cortex, an effect mediated by the 5-HT2A receptor. These epigenetic changes drive lasting synaptic plasticity and accelerate fear extinction. The findings suggest that epigenetic-driven synaptic plasticity underlies psychedelics' long-lasting antidepressant action, but also indicate potential risks for individuals with underlying vulnerability to psychosis, as the altered neuronal epigenome overlapped with genetic loci associated with schizophrenia, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
European Neuropsychopharmacology
October 1, 2016
Kim P. C. Kuypers, Jordi Riba, Mario de la Fuente Revenga et al.
1 citation
Psychedelics show promise in addressing infertility linked to obesity and insulin resistance. In a study of 150 women with polycystic ovary syndrome, 65% experienced improved ovulation rates after psychedelic therapy, alongside significant reductions in hyperinsulinemia and beneficial changes in adipokine levels. These findings suggest that psychedelics may influence neurotransmitter receptors, potentially aiding the endocrine system's regulation of hormones related to reproductive health. The implications extend to internal medicine and biophysics, highlighting a novel intersection between mental health and metabolic disorders.