Research Topic: neural plasticity

The psychedelic-peptide paradox: a hormetic hypothesis

This review explores how psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin work through the body’s natural stress-response systems, particularly two brain chemicals called oxytocin and vasopressin. It explains why psychedelics initially cause uncomfortable feelings like nausea and anxiety, but these are followed by improved mood, sociability, and emotional healing. The theory suggests that this initial ‘stress’ response triggers the body’s natural healing mechanisms, similar to how physical exercise makes you uncomfortable initially but builds strength over time.

Read More »

The Neural Signature of Visual Learning Under Restrictive Virtual-Reality Conditions

Scientists studied how honey bees learn to distinguish different colors in a virtual reality environment. By examining the brains of bees that successfully learned versus those that didn’t, researchers found that successful learning caused specific genes to be turned down in key visual brain regions. This suggests that learning involves not just turning genes on, but also turning some off, which may help the brain focus on important visual information. The findings help us understand how animal brains process visual information and learn from experience.

Read More »
Scroll to Top