#psychedelics
"Psilocybin reverses depressive behaviors and restores brain cell growth in stressed rats
Two doses of the psychedelic compound psilocybin can reverse signs of depression and anxiety in rats exposed to chronic stress. The substance appears to work by encouraging the growth of new brain cells and normalizing stress hormone levels. The research was published in Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry.
Major depressive disorder affects millions of people worldwide. Its core symptoms include persistent low mood, severe anxiety, and an inability to feel pleasure. The condition is associated with a loss of synaptic connections in areas of the brain responsible for regulating emotions. Current medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, do not work for every patient and often take weeks to show any benefit.
Researchers are increasingly looking toward psychedelic substances as alternative therapies. Psilocybin is the active compound found in 'magic mushrooms' and has shown promise in treating depression in human trials. Scientists are trying to figure out exactly how the chemical alters the brain to produce these lasting benefits.
Prolonged psychological stress can physically alter the brain by reducing the formation of new connections between neurons. Chronic stress also hyperactivates the body’s natural response to threats, leading to an overproduction of stress hormones from the adrenal glands. Over time, this hormonal flood impairs a region of the brain called the hippocampus, which handles emotion and memory.
Agnieszka Bysiek and Krystyna Gołembiowska, researchers at the Polish Academy of Sciences, led an investigation into how psilocybin might repair this stress-induced damage. They worked alongside colleagues from the Medical University of Warsaw. The team designed an experiment to track behavioral changes and biological markers of brain healing."
https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-reverses-depressive-behaviors-and-restores-brain-cell-growth-in-stres/
Levka
npub1et…4e5sv
2026-09-03 23:53:25 UTC
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2026-09-03 23:53:25 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "#psychedelics\n\n\"Psilocybin reverses depressive behaviors and restores brain cell growth in stressed rats\n\nTwo doses of the psychedelic compound psilocybin can reverse signs of depression and anxiety in rats exposed to chronic stress. The substance appears to work by encouraging the growth of new brain cells and normalizing stress hormone levels. The research was published in Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology \u0026 Biological Psychiatry.\n\nMajor depressive disorder affects millions of people worldwide. Its core symptoms include persistent low mood, severe anxiety, and an inability to feel pleasure. The condition is associated with a loss of synaptic connections in areas of the brain responsible for regulating emotions. Current medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, do not work for every patient and often take weeks to show any benefit.\n\nResearchers are increasingly looking toward psychedelic substances as alternative therapies. Psilocybin is the active compound found in 'magic mushrooms' and has shown promise in treating depression in human trials. Scientists are trying to figure out exactly how the chemical alters the brain to produce these lasting benefits.\n\nProlonged psychological stress can physically alter the brain by reducing the formation of new connections between neurons. Chronic stress also hyperactivates the body’s natural response to threats, leading to an overproduction of stress hormones from the adrenal glands. Over time, this hormonal flood impairs a region of the brain called the hippocampus, which handles emotion and memory.\n\nAgnieszka Bysiek and Krystyna Gołembiowska, researchers at the Polish Academy of Sciences, led an investigation into how psilocybin might repair this stress-induced damage. They worked alongside colleagues from the Medical University of Warsaw. The team designed an experiment to track behavioral changes and biological markers of brain healing.\"\n\nhttps://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-reverses-depressive-behaviors-and-restores-brain-cell-growth-in-stres/",
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