A renowned psychedelic, similar in nature to LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline, has been shown to activate specific brain cells that inhibit nearby neurons. This discovery sheds light on how these substances may help alleviate anxiety, according to a recent study.
The research indicates that the psychedelic DOI (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine) reduced anxiety levels in mice and rats while stimulating the ventral hippocampus and the so-called fast-spiking interneurons in that area.
“Prior to this, it was unclear which regions of the brain and type of cells were involved in the anxiety-suppressing effects of psychedelics,” stated Alex Kwan, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University and the lead author of the study, which was published today in the journal Neuron. “Understanding the neurobiology at play can help us design improved medications that specifically target these pathways.”
“This research illuminates the cellular mechanisms behind the anxiety relief triggered by psychedelics,” commented Vidita Vaidya, a senior professor of biological sciences at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai and the corresponding author of the paper.
The pathway located in the ventral hippocampus—a brain region associated with social memory, emotion, and mood—does not seem to induce the hallucinations typically associated with DOI. This suggests that some beneficial effects of psychedelics, which include alleviating PTSD, depression, and anxiety, might be confined to specific circuits in the brain, according to Vaidya.
“This opens up the potential to create psychedelic-inspired medications focused on treating anxiety without causing intense hallucinations,” she further explained.
The study expands on previous findings that recognized excessive hyperactivity in the ventral hippocampus when an animal experiences anxiety, especially in neurons that interact with the amygdala, a key center for emotion processing.
“There are indications that these cells become more active during anxiety, and the hypothesis is that the drug may work by inhibiting some of this activity,” Kwan noted.
