Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and broader neuroplasticity : a systematic review
(2024) In Molecular Medicine 30(1).- Abstract
In the mammalian brain, new neurons continue to be generated throughout life in a process known as adult neurogenesis. The role of adult-generated neurons has been broadly studied across laboratories, and mounting evidence suggests a strong link to the HPA axis and concomitant dysregulations in patients diagnosed with mood disorders. Psychedelic compounds, such as phenethylamines, tryptamines, cannabinoids, and a variety of ever-growing chemical categories, have emerged as therapeutic options for neuropsychiatric disorders, while numerous reports link their effects to increased adult neurogenesis. In this systematic review, we examine studies assessing neurogenesis or other neurogenesis-associated brain plasticity after psychedelic... (More)
In the mammalian brain, new neurons continue to be generated throughout life in a process known as adult neurogenesis. The role of adult-generated neurons has been broadly studied across laboratories, and mounting evidence suggests a strong link to the HPA axis and concomitant dysregulations in patients diagnosed with mood disorders. Psychedelic compounds, such as phenethylamines, tryptamines, cannabinoids, and a variety of ever-growing chemical categories, have emerged as therapeutic options for neuropsychiatric disorders, while numerous reports link their effects to increased adult neurogenesis. In this systematic review, we examine studies assessing neurogenesis or other neurogenesis-associated brain plasticity after psychedelic interventions and aim to provide a comprehensive picture of how this vast category of compounds regulates the generation of new neurons. We conducted a literature search on PubMed and Science Direct databases, considering all articles published until January 31, 2023, and selected articles containing both the words “neurogenesis” and “psychedelics”. We analyzed experimental studies using either in vivo or in vitro models, employing classical or atypical psychedelics at all ontogenetic windows, as well as human studies referring to neurogenesis-associated plasticity. Our findings were divided into five main categories of psychedelics: CB1 agonists, NMDA antagonists, harmala alkaloids, tryptamines, and entactogens. We described the outcomes of neurogenesis assessments and investigated related results on the effects of psychedelics on brain plasticity and behavior within our sample. In summary, this review presents an extensive study into how different psychedelics may affect the birth of new neurons and other brain-related processes. Such knowledge may be valuable for future research on novel therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders.
(Less)
- author
- Lima da Cruz, Rafael V. ; Leão, Richardson N. and Moulin, Thiago C. LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Dentate gyrus, Hallucinogens, Major depression, Neurogenesis, Plasticity, Psychedelics
- in
- Molecular Medicine
- volume
- 30
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 244
- publisher
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:39701927
- scopus:85212397764
- ISSN
- 1076-1551
- DOI
- 10.1186/s10020-024-01013-4
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 714b6ea4-27d9-446d-8870-10e63f533143
- date added to LUP
- 2025-01-17 11:58:49
- date last changed
- 2025-06-06 23:15:01
@article{714b6ea4-27d9-446d-8870-10e63f533143,
abstract = {{<p>In the mammalian brain, new neurons continue to be generated throughout life in a process known as adult neurogenesis. The role of adult-generated neurons has been broadly studied across laboratories, and mounting evidence suggests a strong link to the HPA axis and concomitant dysregulations in patients diagnosed with mood disorders. Psychedelic compounds, such as phenethylamines, tryptamines, cannabinoids, and a variety of ever-growing chemical categories, have emerged as therapeutic options for neuropsychiatric disorders, while numerous reports link their effects to increased adult neurogenesis. In this systematic review, we examine studies assessing neurogenesis or other neurogenesis-associated brain plasticity after psychedelic interventions and aim to provide a comprehensive picture of how this vast category of compounds regulates the generation of new neurons. We conducted a literature search on PubMed and Science Direct databases, considering all articles published until January 31, 2023, and selected articles containing both the words “neurogenesis” and “psychedelics”. We analyzed experimental studies using either in vivo or in vitro models, employing classical or atypical psychedelics at all ontogenetic windows, as well as human studies referring to neurogenesis-associated plasticity. Our findings were divided into five main categories of psychedelics: CB1 agonists, NMDA antagonists, harmala alkaloids, tryptamines, and entactogens. We described the outcomes of neurogenesis assessments and investigated related results on the effects of psychedelics on brain plasticity and behavior within our sample. In summary, this review presents an extensive study into how different psychedelics may affect the birth of new neurons and other brain-related processes. Such knowledge may be valuable for future research on novel therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders.</p>}},
author = {{Lima da Cruz, Rafael V. and Leão, Richardson N. and Moulin, Thiago C.}},
issn = {{1076-1551}},
keywords = {{Dentate gyrus; Hallucinogens; Major depression; Neurogenesis; Plasticity; Psychedelics}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research}},
series = {{Molecular Medicine}},
title = {{Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and broader neuroplasticity : a systematic review}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-01013-4}},
doi = {{10.1186/s10020-024-01013-4}},
volume = {{30}},
year = {{2024}},
}