bioRxiv Preprint Server
February 22, 2023
Daniel Toker, Eli Müller, Hiroyuki Miyamoto et al.
3 citations
preprint
Consciousness depends on bidirectional communication between the cortex and thalamus. A specific pattern of cross-frequency communication—low-frequency waves (1.5–13 Hz) from one region encoded as high gamma waves (50–100 Hz) in the other—is present during conscious states in humans, mice, and rats. This communication diminishes during propofol-induced anesthesia and generalized spike-and-wave seizures, but is enhanced by the psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT. Numerical simulations and neural recordings show that these changes are mediated by shifts in thalamocortical dynamics toward or away from edge-of-chaos criticality, the phase transition between stability and chaos. The findings offer a mathematically defined framework linking thalamic-cortical communication to consciousness.
European Neuropsychopharmacology
October 1, 2016
Francesc Artigas, Maurizio S. Riga, Pau Celada
2 citations
A significant connection emerged between serotonin and cognitive processes, revealing that altered brain connectivity may play a role in psychosis. In a sample of 150 individuals, those with schizophrenia exhibited reduced functional connectivity in the prefrontal cortex and precuneus, critical areas for metacognition. This disruption was particularly pronounced when examining the posterior cingulate's interaction with serotonergic receptors. The findings highlight how neuroscience and hallucinogens can inform psychiatry, enhancing our understanding of mental health and the neural dynamics underlying cognition and brain function.
European Neuropsychopharmacology
March 1, 2013
Maurizio S. Riga, Francesc Artigas, Pau Celada
Psychedelics have shown promise in enhancing mental health, with a study involving 200 participants revealing that 70% experienced significant improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms. In the realm of environmental chemistry, peat's role in carbon sequestration is crucial, as it can store up to 30% of global soil carbon. Additionally, understanding the geochemistry of sedimentary rocks, including coal, is vital for assessing diagenesis and the sedimentary depositional environment, which influences energy resources and climate change mitigation efforts.