Scientists believe that magic mushroom “trips” could help reverse the damaging effects of depression on the brains of those affected. Thus, a psychedelic drug called psilocybin, which occurs naturally in some mushrooms, has shown signs of increased lasting connections between neurons in the brain of mice (what we know as synapses), according to a new University study from Yale (USA) published in Neuron magazine.
Research shows that a single dose of this psychedelic substance called psilocybin triggers the proliferation of synapses in these same cortical regions, providing a potential treatment for those suffering from the condition due to having suffered from depression.
The results were immediate and long-lasting about synapses between neurons in rodents. “Not only did we see a 10% increase in the number of neural connections, but they were also on average 10% larger, so the connections were also stronger,” said Alex Kwan, associate professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Yale and author of the article.
It had previously been studied as a potential treatment for depression, but it was unclear how exactly it worked in the brain and how long the beneficial results would last.
Now, the study has shown that these compounds (psilocybin and also ketamine) increase the density of dendritic spines, small bumps found on nerve cells that help in the transmission of information between neurons, of which the Chronic stress and depression reduce their numbers.
The scientists used a laser scanning microscope to create high-resolution images of dendritic spines in live mice and track them over several days. They observed a clear increase in the number and circumference of dendritic spines on the first day after psilocybin exposure. These changes persisted for at least a month, and mice previously placed in stressful situations showed better behavior, with increased neurotransmitter activity, after psilocybin administration.
This structural remodeling of the brain can help correct certain neurological deficits associated with depression and, at the same time, allow the encoding of new knowledge, which “could prepare the brain to integrate new psychological experiences”, thus allowing a change in mentality.
“It was a real surprise to see such long-lasting changes with a single dose of psilocybin. These new connections may be the structural changes that the brain uses to store new experiences, ” add the authors.
When would they be legally available for use?
Experts believe that it could take many years for magic mushrooms to be available on the market for completely legal use. Be that as it may, more research is needed to clarify the mechanisms behind the therapeutic properties of this drug.
Referencia: Ling-Xiao Shao, Clara Liao, Ian Gregg, Pasha A. Davoudian, Neil K. Savalia, Kristina Delagarza, Alex C. Kwan. Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo. Neuron, 2021; DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.008
