Concept

Therapeutic mechanisms of psilocybin

Psilocybin is a 5HT-2A (serotonin 2A) receptor agonist, which seems to play a role in both the hallucinogenic and therapeutic impacts. Studies in treatment-resistant depression patients show increased functional connectivity during emotional processing tasks, particularly in the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. This is similar to the neural plasticity induced by psychedelics in general.

All of these processes/regions have been implicated in the antidepressant action of typical antidepressants like SSRIs, which may explain why psilocybin has observed antidepressant properties.

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Updated 2023-04-16

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