Disease: opioid addiction

Molecular and Functional Imaging Studies of Psychedelic Drug Action in Animals and Humans

This comprehensive review examines how scientists use advanced imaging techniques like PET and SPECT scans to study how hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin interact with the brain. The research shows these drugs primarily bind to serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A subtype, which appear responsible for producing hallucinations. While scientific understanding of hallucinogen mechanisms has advanced significantly, there is still much to learn about their complete effects on brain chemistry and their potential therapeutic applications.

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The Role of Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1A (ASIC1A) in the Behavioral and Synaptic Effects of Oxycodone and Other Opioids

This study examines how a specific type of brain channel called ASIC1A affects how the brain responds to opioid drugs like oxycodone and morphine. Researchers found that mice without this channel showed stronger attraction to opioid-paired locations and had unusual changes in brain connections related to opioid use. The findings suggest that targeting ASIC1A could potentially be a new way to treat opioid addiction by reducing the brain’s sensitivity to these drugs.

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