Research Keyword: Behavioral pharmacology

Acute and Chronic Psilocybin in Mouse Models of Psychiatric Disorders

Researchers tested psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms) in mice bred to show obsessive-compulsive behaviors. A single dose of psilocybin reduced compulsive grooming for about a week, but giving it repeatedly over time did not help with anxiety, depression, or compulsive behaviors. The findings suggest psilocybin might work best as a one-time treatment rather than repeated doses, which has implications for how these drugs might be used in future psychiatric treatment.

Read More »

Investigating the Potential of Psilocybin for Compulsive Eating in a Rat Model of Binge Eating

Researchers tested whether psilocybin, a psychedelic compound from magic mushrooms, could help reduce compulsive eating in rats bred to binge eat high-fat, high-sugar foods. Using a fear-conditioning experiment, they found that a single dose of psilocybin did not reduce the rats’ compulsive eating behavior at the dosage tested. However, the treatment may have affected fear-related freezing responses, suggesting psilocybin might influence brain circuits involved in learning and memory.

Read More »

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.

Read More »
Scroll to Top