How psychedelics spark neuronal growth

Psychedelics belong to a group of compounds called psychoplastogens, which can promote neuronal growth and restore atrophied connections in the brain. This ability makes the molecules promising as potential treatments for neuropsychiatric diseases such as chronic depression and addiction. In a new study, scientists have untangled the mechanism of how these compounds trigger the rewiring of the brain, providing a better understanding of why they differ from other neurochemicals that share the same binding targets ( Science 2023, DOI: 10.1126/science.adf0435 ). Classic psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD bind to the seratonin 2A, or 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A ) receptor, an important G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that’s involved in cellular signaling. But so does serotonin, a commonplace, mood-regulating neurotransmitter. The lingering mystery is why serotonin doesn’t stimulate the same neuroplasticity effects that psychedelic compounds do. The new study has found the answer. “The location of the 5-HT2A receptor is