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ScienceQuiet 6d · day 6

UC Santa Cruz team separates psilocybin's therapeutic effects from hallucinations in mice

Researchers identified distinct neural pathways for psilocybin's brain-connectivity benefits and its hallucinogenic effects, opening a path to targeted treatments.

newest coverage 6d agosummary written 6d ago4 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • UC Santa Cruz researchers identified two separate neural pathways in psilocybin: one for neuroplasticity and dendritic spine growth, another for hallucinations.
  • By genetically manipulating cellular receptors, the team isolated therapeutic brain benefits from psychedelic effects in mice—moving closer to targeted treatments without the 'trip.'
  • Effects differ based on brain state: stressed mice showed greater spine formation and connection preservation, while healthy mice showed accelerated spine production and clearing.
  • Results are early-stage mouse studies; human translation needed before any new treatments can be developed.

“These newly formed connections can integrate into existing neural circuitry and persist over time, leaving a lasting structural trace of psilocybin's effects on the brain.”

Jacob Baker, Neuroscientist · ScienceAlert ↗ · Nov 1

Yi Zuo Molecular biologist, UC Santa CruzJacob Baker NeuroscientistUniversity of California, Santa Cruz Research institution

UC Santa Cruz team separates psilocybin's therapeutic effects from hallucinations in mice
sciencealert.com

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Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6yesterdaynow · 1:09 PM ET
  1. 1

    Findings reveal psilocybin's therapeutic effects depend on brain's underlying condition

    The research shows psilocybin's effects differ based on whether the brain is stressed or healthy. In stressed mice (mimicking depression), new spine formation increased more dramatically and existing connection loss was prevented, while in healthy mice both spine production and clearing accelerated.

    “These findings challenge the prevailing view that psilocybin simply increases neural connectivity and suggest that its effects depend on the brain's underlying condition.”
    — Yi Zuo
  2. background

    UC Santa Cruz team isolates psilocybin's therapeutic pathway from hallucinations in mouse study — Researchers published findings in Nature Neuroscience showing that psilocybin can boost brain connectivity and dendritic spine development without producing hallucinogenic effects. The team manipulated cellular receptors to separate the neuroplasticity benefits from trip-like responses, assessed via head-twitch proxies in the animals.