The role of 5-HT2A receptors in sleep architecture and memory consolidation in the animal model

This thesis is concerned with the serotonin system and its influence on sleep and memory consolidation. Psilocybin, a neuroplastic serotonergic psychedelic, has recently been investigated mainly for its therapeutic potential. Sleep changes associated with administration of the nonselective serotonin receptor agonist psilocybin and the selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist MDL100907, or their combination, were monitored using a biotelemetry device 24 hours after their administration in two groups, with and without sleep deprivation. We further investigated how sleep manipulation and occupancy of these receptors affects sleep parameters and whether deprivation or modulation of the receptors affects memory consolidation in behavioral tasks of object place recognition and Morris water maze. Administration of psilocybin and MDL100907 did not alter NREM sleep but did affect wakefulness, REM phase duration, and onset latency of this phase. Unfortunately, behavioral tasks showed no effect of substances or sleep deprivation on memory consolidation. Keywords: memory, sleep, consolidation, 5-HT receptors, psychedelics