Tripping the Lights Fantastic –
June 13, 2018 – It’s no surprise that psychedelic drugs such as LSD and ecstasy alter brain function, leading to the drugs’ “trippy” effects and possible hallucinations. But now, researchers have shown that these drugs can also physically alter the brain, changing the structure of brain cells. The new study was done on nerve cells in lab dishes and in animals, but if the findings also hold true in humans, these drugs could have surprising benefits for patients with certain mood disorders, the researchers said.
That’s because, in people with depression or mood and anxiety disorders, neurons in the prefrontal cortex — an area of the brain that’s important in part for controlling emotion — tend to shrivel up, said senior study author David Olson, an assistant professor of chemistry, biochemistry and molecular medicine at the University of California, Davis. What’s more, the branches and dendritic spines on the neurons’ branches — which they use to communicate with other neurons — tend to retract, he said. [11 Odd Facts About ‘Magic’ Mushrooms]
