5-MeO-DMT induces sleep-like LFP spectral signatures in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of awake rats
Annie Da Costa Souza, Bryan Da Costa Souza, Arthur S. C. França, Marzieh Moradi, Nicholy Da Costa Souza, Katarina E. Leão, Adriano B. L. Tort, Richardson N. Leão, Vítor Lopes‐dos‐santos, Sidarta Ribeiro
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) June 5, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.01.543303 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT increases delta power and decreases theta power in the hippocampus of freely moving rats, effects not explained by changes in locomotion. It also dose-dependently reduces slow and mid gamma power and theta phase modulation. The overall spectral profile of awake behavior after 5-MeO-DMT resembles electrophysiological states seen during slow-wave sleep and REM sleep. These findings suggest that classical psychedelics may integrate waking behaviors with sleep-like neural activity patterns.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study |
|---|---|
| Population | Freely behaving rats |
| Keywords | Local field potential Neuroscience Prefrontal cortex Electrophysiology Sleep system call |
| Key finding | 5-MeO-DMT induces sleep-like spectral patterns in hippocampal local field potentials during wakefulness in rats. |
Abstract
Abstract 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a potent classical psychedelic known to induce changes in locomotion, behaviour, and sleep in rodents. However, there is limited knowledge regarding its acute neurophysiological effects. Local field potentials (LFPs) are commonly used as a proxy for neural activity, but previous studies investigating psychedelics have been hindered by confounding effects of behavioural changes and anaesthesia, which alter these signals. To address this gap, we investigated acute LFP changes in the hippocampus (HP) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of freely behaving rats, following 5-MeO-DMT administration. 5-MeO-DMT led to an increase of delta power and a decrease of theta power in the HP LFPs, which could not be accounted for by changes in locomotion. Furthermore, we observed a dose-dependent reduction in slow (20-50 Hz) and mid (50-100Hz) gamma power, as well as in theta phase modulation, even after controlling for the effects of speed and theta power. State map analysis of the spectral profile of awake behaviour induced by 5-MeO-DMT revealed similarities to electrophysiological states observed during slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Our findings suggest that the psychoactive effects of classical psychedelics are associated with the integration of waking behaviours with sleep-like spectral patterns in LFPs.