The Effects of Psychedelics on Neuronal Physiology.

A single dose of a psychedelic can rapidly alter subjective experience and produce lasting changes in brain circuits related to mood, fear, reward, and cognitive flexibility. These effects stem from psychedelics interacting with key neuroreceptors across the brain, activating signaling cascades that change neuronal structure and function. The acute effects involve serotonergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, while long-lasting effects involve structural and functional neuroplasticity in the cortex. The neurobiological changes behind acute and sustained effects may be distinct, offering opportunities to engineer compounds with improved safety and efficacy.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelics are quite unique among drugs that impact the central nervous system, as a single administration of a psychedelic can both rapidly alter subjective experience in profound ways and produce sustained effects on circuits relevant to mood, fear, reward, and cognitive flexibility. These remarkable properties are a direct result of psychedelics interacting with several key neuroreceptors distributed across the brain. Stimulation of these receptors activates a variety of signaling cascades that ultimately culminate in changes in neuronal structure and function. Here, we describe the effects of psychedelics on neuronal physiology, highlighting their acute effects on serotonergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission as well as their long-lasting effects on structural and functional neuroplasticity in the cortex. We propose that the neurobiological changes leading to the acute and sustained effects of psychedelics might be distinct, which could provide opportunities for engineering compounds with optimized safety and efficacy profiles.