Activation of serotonin 2A receptors underlies the psilocybin-induced effects on α oscillations, N170 visual-evoked potentials, and visual hallucinations
OrthoEvidence Journal (OE Journal) - ACE Report
OE Journal. 2022;10(11):11 J Neurosci. 2013 23-Feb;():. 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3007-12.2013What this means for my practice?
Psilocybin strongly decreased prestimulus α power values which prevented the subsequent stimulus-induced α power decrease. α oscillations provide inhibitory control to reduce the excitability of the visual network in the absence of relevant inputs. Psilocybin, through activation of the 5-HT2A receptors reduces this inhibition, allowing for visual network excitement in the absence of inputs. Psilocybin increased medial P1 potentials, which were associated with α power values. The attenuation of all these effects by ketanserin provides evidence for the role of 5-HT2A receptor activation in mediating these effects. These findings could have therapeutic implications for disorders involving altered 5-HT2A receptor expression. The results are limited by the small sample size.
Study Summary
Fifteen healthy subjects underwent a double-blind, within-subject, randomized placebo-controlled study to investigate the effects of psilocybin on the formation of visual hallucinations, by measuring the effects of psilocybin on α oscillations and early visual-evoked P1 and N170 potentials. The role of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptors was investigated using 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, ketanserin. Subjects received four different drug combinations of a placebo, psilocybin (215 microg/kg), and ketanserin on four different days, two weeks apart. EEG data was collected while the subjects underwent visual stimulus presentations. Psilocybin strongly decreased prestimulus parieto-occipital α power values, which prevented a stimulus-induced α power decrease. Psilocybin strongly decreased N170 potentials which were associated with the appearance of visual perceptual alterations. All of these effects were blocked by ketanserin.
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