Serotonin and psilocybin activate 5-HT1B receptors to suppress cortical signaling through the claustrum
Researchers found that serotonin and psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms) work through the same brain mechanism to suppress certain neural signals in a brain region called the claustrum. This region controls how different parts of the cortex communicate with each other. The study shows that psilocybin directly targets serotonin 5-HT1B receptors to quiet down signals from one brain area to another, which may explain how psychedelics change cortical network activity and alter consciousness.