Flies on ’Shrooms: Studying the Psychotherapeutic Potential of Psilocybin using Drosophila
American Entomologist December 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/ae/tmad063 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, is being studied for its potential in psychotherapy, but its effects on the brain are complex. This article explores the use of fruit flies (Drosophila) as a model organism to investigate how psilocybin affects behavior and neural function, offering a simpler system to understand its mechanisms before moving to human studies. The flies' well-known genetics and short life cycles make them suitable for such research, potentially revealing how psilocybin influences neural plasticity and behavior.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Drosophila subgenus Psychoanalysis Neuroscience Psychology |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Drosophila may serve as a useful model for studying the neural and behavioral effects of psilocybin, potentially aiding in understanding its psychotherapeutic mechanisms. |
Abstract
Journal Article Flies on 'Shrooms: Studying the Psychotherapeutic Potential of Psilocybin using Drosophila Get access Nicoletta Faraone Nicoletta Faraone Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar American Entomologist, Volume 69, Issue 4, Winter 2023, Pages 32–35, https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmad063 Published: 19 December 2023