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A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry has revealed that a single dose of the psychedelic drug 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) can lead to long-lasting changes in brain structure and cognitive flexibility in mice. The researchers found that mice treated with DOI became more attuned to previously overlooked cues, allowing them to learn more efficiently from their experiences. These effects appeared to depend on the timing of drug administration and the animals’ experiences after the treatment.
DOI is a synthetic psychedelic from the amphetamine class that acts primarily by activating serotonin receptors in the brain. It is known for inducing long-lasting alterations in perception and has been studied for its ability to promote neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new connections. But much of this work has focused on the short-term effects immediately following drug administration.
Less is known about how these structural changes in the brain translate into long-term behavioral adaptations, particularly in relation to cognitive flexibility, a key feature of mental health and well-being. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt one’s thinking or behavior in response to new information or changing circumstances, and impairments in this ability are often linked to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“My research interests are about cognitive flexibility in general and its relationship to brain plasticity changes. Many neuropsychiatric conditions share a common symptom of cognitive rigidity, so I wanted to study how enhancing neuroplasticity could unlock a more flexible cognitive state to get a stuck brain unstuck. When I was writing my PhD proposal, the psychedelic hype was just starting to pick up and what attracted me was the idea that I can use these drugs as a tool to induce rapid and enduring neuroplasticity,” explained Merima Šabanović, a postdoctoral associate at the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine.
DOI is a synthetic psychedelic from the amphetamine class that acts primarily by activating serotonin receptors in the brain. It is known for inducing long-lasting alterations in perception and has been studied for its ability to promote neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new connections. But much of this work has focused on the short-term effects immediately following drug administration.
Less is known about how these structural changes in the brain translate into long-term behavioral adaptations, particularly in relation to cognitive flexibility, a key feature of mental health and well-being. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt one’s thinking or behavior in response to new information or changing circumstances, and impairments in this ability are often linked to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“My research interests are about cognitive flexibility in general and its relationship to brain plasticity changes. Many neuropsychiatric conditions share a common symptom of cognitive rigidity, so I wanted to study how enhancing neuroplasticity could unlock a more flexible cognitive state to get a stuck brain unstuck. When I was writing my PhD proposal, the psychedelic hype was just starting to pick up and what attracted me was the idea that I can use these drugs as a tool to induce rapid and enduring neuroplasticity,” explained Merima Šabanović, a postdoctoral associate at the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Little-known psychedelic found to have a fascinating effect on cognitive flexibility after just a single dose
A single dose of the psychedelic DOI enhances long-lasting cognitive flexibility in mice, making them more responsive to overlooked cues. These findings suggest psychedelics may promote adaptive learning, with potential implications for treating mental health conditions involving rigid thinking.
www.psypost.org
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