Pharmacology of Hallucinations: Several Mechanisms for One Single Symptom?
BioMed Research International January 1, 2014 Benjamin Rolland, Renaud Jardri, Ali Amad et al. 96 citations
Hallucinations arise from at least three distinct pharmacological pathways: activation of dopamine D2 receptors by psychostimulants, activation of serotonin 5HT2A receptors by psychedelics, and blockage of glutamate NMDA receptors by dissociative anesthetics. In schizophrenia, the relative roles of NMDA and dopamine receptors remain debated, and slight clinical differences appear depending on the cause. This narrative review synthesizes how leading researchers have approached whether the concept of hallucination is clinically and neurobiologically homogeneous. Some favor a single mechanism, while others propose integrated theories based on pharmacological psychosis models. The authors suggest that although common neurobiological pathways may exist, each system likely has unique properties that explain observed clinical differences.