Anew study published in Molecular Psychiatry has revealed that a single dose of the psychedelic drug 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) can lead to long-lasting changes in brain structure and cognitive flexibility in mice. The researchers found that mice treated with DOI became more attuned to previously overlooked cues, allowing them to learn more efficiently from their experiences. These effects appeared to depend on the timing of drug administration and the animals’ experiences after the treatment.
DOI is a synthetic psychedelic from the amphetamine class that acts primarily by activating serotonin receptors in the brain. It is known for inducing long-lasting alterations in perception and has been studied for its ability to promote neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new connections. But much of this work has focused on the short-term effects immediately following drug administration.
Less is known about how these structural changes in the brain translate into long-term behavioral adaptations, particularly in relation to cognitive flexibility, a key feature of mental health and well-being. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt one’s thinking or behavior in response to new information or changing circumstances, and impairments in this ability are often linked to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Sail and grow
Deep inside
The brave align
Green we stay
-Boss Keloid Lung Valley