LSD induces increased signalling entropy in rats' prefrontal cortex
Analysing RNA-seq from the rat prefrontal cortex after chronic LSD, the authors show that LSD rewires gene co‑expression networks to become less centralised but more complex, producing an overall increase in signalling entropy consistent with heightened molecular plasticity. This molecular increase in entropy parallels human neuroimaging reports of greater brain entropy and, via network topology, the study nominates candidate transcriptional regulators and implicates specific cell types in psychedelic action.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs are gaining attention from the scientific community as potential new compounds for the treatment of psychiatric diseases such as mood and substance use disorders. The 5-HT 2A receptor has been identified as the main molecular target, and early studies pointed to an effect on the expression of neuroplasticity genes. Analysing RNA-seq data from the prefrontal cortex of rats chronically treated with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), we describe the psychedelic-induced rewiring of gene co-expression networks, which become less centralized but more complex, with an overall increase in signalling entropy, typical of highly plastic systems. Intriguingly, signalling entropy mirrors, at the molecular level, the increased brain entropy reported through neuroimaging studies in human, suggesting the underlying mechanisms of higher-order phenomena. Moreover, from the analysis of network topology we identify potential transcriptional regulators and imply different cell types in psychedelics’ activity.
Research Summary of 'LSD induces increased signalling entropy in rats' prefrontal cortex'
Full Text PDF
Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Populationhumans
- Journal
- Compounds
- Topic