The role of modern neuroscience in the renaissance of psychedelic research

Classic psychedelics show therapeutic potential for depression, anxiety, and addiction. Recent advances in experimental neuroscience, especially systems neuroscience, are uncovering the molecular and neural circuit mechanisms underlying psychedelic action. Identifying specific brain circuits that contribute to distinct aspects of the psychedelic experience will advance mechanistic understanding. Many promising psychoactive substances remain understudied compared to popular psychedelics, and investigating their effects on neural circuits and behavior could be a productive direction for neuroscience research institutions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The primary objective of this review is to highlight the increasing relevance of experimental neuroscience in advancing the mechanistic understanding and translational potential of classic psychedelics and other psychoactive substances of interest. First, we review clinical evidence for the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in the context of depression, anxiety, and addiction. Second,we review recent basic neuroscientific findings regarding the molecular and neural circuit bases of psychedelic action, with a focus on contributions from systems neuroscience. We survey recent advances in experimental neuroscience techniques that are well-poised to advance our mechanistic understanding of psychedelics by identifying the specific brain circuits that contribute to distinctaspects of the psychedelic experience. We end by noting that many promising psychoactive substances are woefully understudied in comparison to the more popular psychedelics. Studying their effects on neural circuits and behavior could be a fruitful and financially feasible direction for burgeoning neuroscience research institutions.