serotonin receptors – Page 2

Mushrooms, Microdosing, and Mental Illness: The Effect of Psilocybin on Neurotransmitters, Neuroinflammation, and Neuroplasticity

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This review examines how psilocybin, the active compound in certain mushrooms, may help treat depression and anxiety by reducing brain inflammation and promoting healthy neurotransmitter function. Both full doses under medical supervision and smaller ‘microdoses’ show promise for mental health conditions. The research suggests psilocybin works by calming the immune system’s inflammatory response while simultaneously supporting the brain’s natural healing and adaptation processes, offering a potential alternative treatment when standard medications don’t work.

Biological markers of treatment response to serotonergic psychedelic therapies: a systematic review

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This review examines how scientists can predict which patients will benefit most from psychedelic-assisted therapy for depression by measuring biological markers in the brain and blood. Researchers found that certain brain changes and protein levels—particularly involving the amygdala, specific brain regions, and inflammation markers—appear linked to treatment success. While the current studies are small, they suggest that measuring these biological markers could eventually help doctors personalize psychedelic treatments for depression.

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

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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.

Transient destabilization of whole brain dynamics induced by N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

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This study used computer models of brain activity to understand how the psychedelic drug DMT rapidly changes how the brain works during an acute experience. Researchers found that DMT pushes brain dynamics into a special state where the brain becomes hypersensitive to small changes or stimuli. This heightened sensitivity is strongest in brain regions rich in serotonin receptors and matches the expected timing of the drug’s effects, suggesting that brief psychedelic experiences may create lasting changes in the brain through this temporary destabilization window.

How to account for hallucinations in the interpretation of the antidepressant effects of psychedelics: a translational framework

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Psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin show promise in treating depression with effects lasting months after single doses. However, scientists debate whether the hallucinations and mystical experiences these drugs produce are necessary for their healing effects. This review proposes a framework to test whether lower doses without hallucinations might still provide antidepressant benefits, similar to how anesthesia-administered ketamine works without the patient’s awareness.

Psilocybin induces long-lasting effects via 5-HT2A receptors in mouse models of chronic pain

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Researchers found that psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, significantly reduced chronic pain in mice through activation of specific serotonin receptors. The effects lasted for up to two weeks after a single dose, suggesting lasting changes in how the nervous system processes pain. This study suggests psilocybin could be a promising new treatment for chronic pain conditions like neuropathy and inflammation.

Bis(4-acetoxy-N-ethyl-N-n-propyltryptammonium) fumarate–fumaric acid (1/1)

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Researchers determined the precise chemical structure of a synthetic compound related to psilocybin (the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms) using X-ray crystallography. The compound, 4-AcO-EPT, is designed to be converted in the body to a psychoactive substance with potential therapeutic benefits for depression and anxiety. The study resolved conflicting reports about the compound’s exact composition and molecular arrangement, showing it exists as a specific combination of three molecular components. This work demonstrates why chemists need to study actual crystal structures rather than relying solely on chemical calculations.

Network control energy reductions under DMT relate to serotonin receptors, signal diversity, and subjective experience

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Researchers studied how DMT affects the brain’s ability to switch between different activity patterns. Using simultaneous brain imaging (fMRI) and electrical recordings (EEG), they found that DMT makes these transitions easier and less energy-intensive. The effects occurred primarily in brain regions with high levels of serotonin 2a receptors and were accompanied by increased complexity of brain signals and stronger subjective drug effects.

Psilocybin, an Effective Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder in Adults – A Systematic Review

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Psilocybin, a naturally occurring compound found in certain mushroom species, shows significant promise as a treatment for depression. Clinical studies reviewed in this research found that psilocybin-assisted therapy reduced depressive symptoms in every patient studied, with improvements lasting months after treatment. Unlike traditional antidepressants, psilocybin caused only mild temporary side effects and worked faster, suggesting it could become an important alternative treatment for depression.

A Novel, Non-Hallucinogenic Psychedelic for the Treatment of OCD and Tic Disorder

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Researchers developed a new drug called HBL20017 based on psychedelic compounds that does not cause hallucinations. In animal tests, this drug significantly reduced obsessive behaviors and involuntary muscle twitches, suggesting it could treat conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette’s syndrome. A single dose showed beneficial effects that lasted up to 42 days, and the compound appeared safer than existing psychedelic treatments.

Research Keyword: serotonin receptors