Perceptual Modifying Compounds and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications in Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

Psychedelic compounds such as ketamine and LSD promote neuronal growth by activating AMPA receptors, TrkB, and mTOR, acting as psychoplastogens. The prefrontal cortex exerts top-down control over brain regions involved in motivation, fear, and reward, contributing to therapeutic effects. These compounds enhance synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, producing antidepressant effects, and modulate fear circuits to provide anxiolytic properties. They also disrupt addictive patterns and promote neuroplasticity, showing promise as anti-addictive agents. This exploration reveals new opportunities for treating major depressive disorder, anxiety, and addiction.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelic compounds, including ketamine and LSD, have gained renewed interest as potential treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. These compounds act as psychoplastogens, promoting neuronal growth by activating AMPA receptors, TrkB, and mTOR. The prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in their therapeutic effects through top-down control over brain regions involved in motivation, fear, and reward. Some of these compounds exhibit antidepressant effects by enhancing synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis while also demonstrating anxiolytic properties through the modulation of fear circuits. Additionally, they show promise as anti-addictive agents by disrupting addictive patterns and promoting neuroplasticity. The exploration of how psychedelic substances can be therapeutically beneficial reveals new opportunities for addressing conditions like major depressive disorder, anxiety, and addiction.