5-HT2A receptors – mycolab.ai

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and the Heart: Exploring the Potential Impacts of LSD on Cardiovascular Function

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This review examines how LSD affects the heart and blood vessels. While some evidence suggests LSD might protect against heart disease by reducing inflammation and blood clots, acute use can dangerously raise heart rate and blood pressure, and cause blood vessel constriction. Regular low-dose use raises concerns about potential valve damage. More research is needed to understand the full cardiovascular safety of LSD before it can be considered for medical use.

Discovering the Potential Mechanisms of Medicinal Mushrooms Antidepressant Activity: A Review

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This review explores how medicinal mushrooms may help fight depression through several natural mechanisms. These mushrooms contain compounds that boost serotonin production, reduce brain inflammation, and promote healthy neural growth. The review also discusses psilocybin from magic mushrooms as a promising rapid-acting treatment for severe depression that doesn’t respond to conventional medications.

Psychotomimetic compensation versus sensitization

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This paper proposes a new way to understand why drugs that can cause psychosis-like effects (such as psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine) can also help treat depression and anxiety. The authors suggest that these drugs trigger compensatory responses in the brain that temporarily help us cope with stress, similar to how a runner’s high feels good during exercise. However, if someone uses these drugs repeatedly or experiences chronic stress, they may become sensitized and more vulnerable to developing actual psychotic symptoms over time.

Changes in synaptic markers after administration of ketamine or psychedelics: a systematic scoping review

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This review examines how ketamine and psychedelics affect connections between brain cells. Under stressful conditions, ketamine and psychedelics appear to strengthen these connections in brain areas important for mood and learning. However, the effects are mixed under normal conditions and vary based on dose, sex, and which specific markers are measured. The findings suggest these substances may help restore brain function damaged by stress or substance use.

The central role of the Thalamus in psychosis, lessons from neurodegenerative diseases and psychedelics

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This paper explores how the thalamus, a key brain structure controlling attention and perception, malfunctions in Parkinson’s disease and similar neurological conditions, causing hallucinations and delusions. Interestingly, these symptoms resemble the altered mental states produced by psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin. By studying both conditions together, researchers found that a common mechanism called thalamocortical dysrhythmia disrupts how the brain filters information and processes reality, offering new insights for treating psychotic symptoms.

Attitudes toward psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy among Australian mental healthcare providers

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Australian doctors and mental health professionals have positive views about using psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA to treat depression and trauma, which were recently approved by regulators. However, many still have safety concerns and gaps in their knowledge, particularly psychiatrists. Most doctors learn about psychedelics from podcasts and websites rather than formal training. The study recommends that professional organizations provide better education to prepare healthcare workers for this new treatment approach.

Psilocin, LSD, mescaline, and DOB all induce broadband desynchronization of EEG and disconnection in rats with robust translational validity

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Researchers tested how different psychedelic drugs affect brain electrical activity in rats using EEG recordings. They found that psilocin, LSD, mescaline, and DOB all produced similar patterns of decreased brain activity and reduced communication between brain regions. Importantly, these effects in rats closely matched what scientists observe in human brain studies, suggesting that rats can be useful for understanding how psychedelics work in the brain.

The Impact of Psilocybin on High Glucose/Lipid-Induced Changes in INS-1 Cell Viability and Dedifferentiation

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Researchers tested whether psilocybin, a compound from magic mushrooms, could protect pancreatic β-cells (which produce insulin) from damage caused by high glucose and fat levels. Using laboratory cells, they found that psilocybin reduced β-cell death by preventing apoptosis and showed promise in reducing dedifferentiation (when cells lose their specialized functions). However, psilocybin didn’t restore the cells’ ability to respond to glucose by releasing insulin.

Psilocybin during the postpartum period induces long-lasting adverse effects in both mothers and offspring

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Researchers tested whether psilocybin could help postpartum depression in mice, but found it actually made things worse for both mothers and their babies. While psilocybin normally reduces depression and anxiety, it had the opposite effect during the postpartum period, making mothers more anxious and disrupting their care of pups. Babies exposed to psilocybin through breastfeeding or direct exposure developed anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) as adults. These findings suggest that the postpartum period may be a particularly vulnerable time for psychedelic use, and more research is needed before considering these drugs for postpartum depression treatment.

Research Keyword: 5-HT2A receptors