Scientists are studying psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin for mood disorders and substance abuse, and some imaging studies suggest these drugs can reset brain network activity. Because many brain scans use blood flow and oxygen as a sign of neural activity, researchers tested whether those signals remain reliable after psychedelic dosing.
A team at Washington University in St. Louis tested a serotonin-acting psychedelic. In mice given the drug, the normal relationship between neural firing and blood flow was disrupted. When the researchers gave a second medication that blocks a specific serotonin receptor, the unusual blood-flow effects were removed. The team then used psilocybin in more mouse experiments and found similar changes in blood-flow signals.
The group also reanalyzed data from an earlier human fMRI study in people given psilocybin and found comparable effects on brain responses. The work appears in Nature Neuroscience and suggests caution when interpreting blood flow–based neuroimaging after psychedelic dosing.
Difficult words
- psychedelic — a drug that changes perception and mood
- psilocybin — a psychedelic compound found in some mushrooms
- neural activity — electrical and chemical signals in the brain
- blood flow — movement of blood through vesselsblood-flow
- serotonin — a brain chemical that affects moodserotonin-acting
- receptor — a protein on cells that receives signals
- disrupt — to break the normal pattern or processdisrupted
- reanalyze — to look at data again to checkreanalyzed
- neuroimaging — techniques that make pictures of the brain
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Related articles
Study finds Abbott-Bioline malaria test gives many false negatives
A study on the Thailand–Myanmar border found the Abbott-Bioline rapid malaria test missed many infections. Researchers call it “not fit for purpose”; WHO and the manufacturer are reviewing the test and further studies are under way.
Virtual diet and exercise program helps people with lymphoma
A study tested a virtual diet and exercise program for people getting chemotherapy for lymphoma. The program improved symptoms, attendance was high, and participants had better strength and physical performance during treatment.
Two types of microglia control anxiety in mice
Researchers at the University of Utah found two different microglia types in the brain that can cause or prevent anxiety in mice. The work suggests new ways to think about treatments, but therapies are not near-term.
Wearable 10‑Minute Antibody Sensors from University of Pittsburgh
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh made a wearable biosensor that detects antibodies in interstitial fluid in 10 minutes without a blood draw. The tiny carbon nanotube sensors are highly sensitive and the work appears in Analytical Chemistry.
Lab-grown brain-like tissue without animal materials
Scientists grew functional brain-like tissue using a new synthetic scaffold instead of animal‑derived coatings. The scaffold, made from PEG, supports donor brain cells and could help test drugs and reduce animal use in research.
Cell transplant may help heart after spinal cord injury
Researchers tested transplanting immature nerve cells into spinal cord injuries in rats. The transplants improved nerve control of circulation — stabilizing resting blood pressure and lowering heart rate — but hormonal responses after injury still rose.