Catalysts for change: the cellular neurobiology of psychedelics
Molecular Biology of the Cell May 27, 2021 Matthew I. Banks, Zarmeen Zahid, N. Jones et al. 37 citations
Psychedelics may promote neural plasticity, which is thought to underlie their therapeutic effects in psychiatric disorders. The drugs activate signaling pathways that can produce long-term structural changes in the brain, though these mechanisms are complex and not yet fully understood. Stress and inflammation also play roles in both acute and long-term effects. Beyond altering brain structure, psychedelics challenge and expand understanding of the neural basis of psychiatric disorders, consciousness, and human behavior.