How do serotonergic psychedelics treat depression: The potential role of neuroplasticity

Figure 1 Psychedelic effects on markers of neuroplasticity. At the molecular level serotonergic psychedelics have been associated with increases in brain derived neurotrophic factor protein; at the cellular level serotonergic psychedelics have been associated with increases in neuritogenesis, spinogenesis, and synaptogenesis; at the electrophysiological level serotonergic psychedelics have been shown to lead to cortical desynchronization acutely, less is known about the long term electrophysiological changes although; at the level of functional connectivity serotonergic psychedelics lead to a decrease in default mode network (DMN) integrity acutely but longer-term they may lead to a normalization of DMN integrity; less data exists about volumetric changes with serotonergic psychedelics although in rodents hippocampal neurogenesis has been observed and in long term ayahuasca users decreased thickness of the posterior cingulate cortex has been observed; at a psychological level serotonergic psychedelics have been associated with changes in emotional processing specifically: decreased negative affect, increased positive affect, and an increased sense of connection to the self, others, and the world. BDNF: Brain derived neurotrophic factor; DMN: Default mode network; PCC: Posterior cingulate cortex.