Psychedelic-mediated Reversal of General Anesthesia and Restoration of Brain Dynamics in Rat
bioRxiv Preprint Server January 22, 2025 Emma R. Huels, Nicholas Kolbman, Christopher W. Fields et al. 4 citations preprint
A serotonergic psychedelic, DOI, can reverse general anesthesia and restore wakefulness in rats, even while anesthetics like propofol or isoflurane continue to be delivered. Behavioral arousal was accompanied by recovery of high gamma functional connectivity and restoration of brain network structure. These effects were blocked by a 5-HT2A antagonist, volinanserin, and a non-psychedelic 5-HT2A agonist, lisuride, failed to produce similar results. This provides the first evidence of psychedelic-mediated reversal of general anesthesia and concurrent restoration of brain dynamics associated with normal wakefulness.