Mol Psychiatry
September 30, 2025
Xiubo Du, Jiantao Liu, Xiaohui Wang
2 citations
Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, and DMT can alter consciousness and inspire creativity. This perspective examines how these substances interact with the concept of creation, including enhancing artistic inspiration, fostering spiritual experiences, and driving therapeutic breakthroughs. By integrating neurobiological research, clinical applications, and cultural analysis, the authors argue that psychedelics may catalyze innovative thinking and awaken creative and transformative potential. As these substances gain prominence for reshaping understanding of consciousness and psychological healing, their broader integration requires careful consideration of legal, ethical, and cultural contexts to ensure evidence-based, respectful, and responsible use.
Mol Psychiatry
July 7, 2026
Axel F. Rosado, Abigail L. Yu, Jen-Hau Yang et al.
Psilocybin and MDMA are both psychedelic drugs but produce different behavioral effects. MDMA, but not psilocybin, raises both serotonin and norepinephrine in the medial prefrontal cortex. Blocking norepinephrine release reveals head-twitch responses (a rodent correlate of psychedelic effects) from MDMA, suggesting that noradrenergic signaling opposes serotonin 2A receptor effects. Artificially raising norepinephrine also reduces psilocybin-induced head-twitch responses. Activating the noradrenergic alpha-2 receptor alone suppresses these responses, even in mice lacking the locus coeruleus, indicating action via heteroreceptors. Importantly, alpha-2 receptor activation does not block psilocybin's antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test. This suggests that side effects of serotonin 2A activation can be reduced without losing therapeutic benefits.
Mol Psychiatry
December 1, 2025
Ross J. Purple, Rahul Gupta, Christopher W. Thomas et al.
correction
A correction notice addresses an error in a previously published article: the author's name Robin Carhart-Harris was incorrectly written as Robin Carhartt-Harris. The original article has been corrected.
Mol Psychiatry
September 12, 2025
Jamie C. Masthay, Alex C. Kwan, Steve W. C. Chang
Research on serotonergic psychedelics in nonhuman primates (NHPs) has revealed that these drugs cause characteristic changes in both spontaneous and operant behaviors, though effects vary across studies due to differences in drugs, doses, and individual responsiveness. Some effects in NHPs mirror those in humans, such as the development of tolerance and low abuse liability, but evidence is mixed on whether psychedelics cause visual hallucinations in NHPs. NHP studies have also helped clarify mechanisms of action, connecting findings from human and rodent research. The review concludes that NHPs have potential as preclinical models for studying psychedelic effects on psychiatric conditions and suggests future research directions.
Mol Psychiatry
July 1, 2025
Rebecca Harding, Neomi Singer, Matthew B. Wall et al.
correction
In a study comparing psilocybin therapy (PT) to escitalopram for depression, brain responses to unexpected musical notes were measured. After PT, there was decreased activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and angular gyrus, and greater activation in sensory regions. This suggests PT alters brain processing of unexpected events differently than escitalopram, potentially contributing to its therapeutic effects.
Mol Psychiatry
September 3, 2025
This reply addresses comments by Gattuso et al. on a previous study that reported long-term beneficial effects of single-dose psilocybin and psychedelic mushroom extract in a rodent model of OCD-like excessive self-grooming. The authors defend their original findings and respond to methodological critiques, arguing that the experimental design, including the use of SAPAP3 knockout mice, is appropriate and that the observed reductions in compulsive grooming are robust. They clarify that the study was not designed to isolate specific mechanisms but to demonstrate behavioral efficacy, and they emphasize that the long-term benefits of psilocybin in this model are reproducible and statistically significant.