Scientists at the University of Michigan have discovered that a single dose of a psychedelic compound may help the brain become more flexible and adaptable for a long time.
Their new study suggests that psychedelic drugs could one day help people with mental health and brain disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Alzheimer’s disease.
The research was published in the journal Psychedelics and was led by Omar Ahmed, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. The study focused on a special ability of the brain called cognitive flexibility. This is the brain’s ability to change thinking and behavior when situations or rules suddenly change.
Cognitive flexibility is very important in everyday life. It helps people solve problems, adjust to new situations, learn from mistakes, and switch between tasks.
When this ability becomes weaker, people may get stuck in negative thought patterns or struggle to adapt to changes around them. Scientists believe this loss of flexibility plays a major role in conditions like depression, PTSD, addiction, and dementia.
In recent years, psychedelic drugs have received growing attention from researchers around the world. Several clinical trials are already testing psychedelic compounds as possible treatments for mental health conditions.
Some early studies in humans have suggested that psychedelics may reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, especially when combined with therapy.
However, scientists still do not fully understand how these drugs affect the brain over time. One important question is whether the benefits continue long after the drug leaves the body. The new University of Michigan study aimed to explore this question.
The researchers tested a psychedelic compound called 25CN-NBOH in mice. This compound affects serotonin 2a receptors in the brain. These receptors are believed to play a key role in how psychedelic drugs produce their effects.
The team wanted to see whether the psychedelic could improve flexible learning. To study this, the mice were trained using a device called FED3. This machine automatically rewarded the animals with small food pellets when they poked their noses into certain holes in the correct order.
At first, the mice learned one sequence of actions. Once they became good at the task, the researchers suddenly changed the rules. The mice then had to learn a new sequence to continue receiving food rewards.
This change allowed scientists to measure how quickly the mice could adapt to new information. Mice that received the psychedelic drug learned the new rules much faster than mice that received a placebo injection instead.
What surprised the researchers most was how long the effects lasted. The improved learning ability was still seen three weeks after the mice received just one dose of the psychedelic compound.
Elizabeth Brouns, a master’s student and first author of the study, explained that this finding is especially important because many human psychedelic clinical trials only involve one or two doses. The results suggest that even a single treatment might create long-lasting improvements in how the brain adapts and learns.
The researchers believe the findings may be relevant to humans because the brain systems involved are similar in both mice and people. Tyler Ekins, a postdoctoral fellow and co-author of the study, said that the prefrontal cortex and serotonin 2a receptors work in similar ways across the two species.
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain involved in planning, decision-making, emotional control, and flexible thinking. Problems in this brain area are often linked to mental health disorders. Scientists think psychedelics may temporarily change activity in this region, helping the brain form new patterns of thinking.
Even though the findings are exciting, the researchers say many questions still need answers. Psychedelic medicine is a rapidly growing field, but scientists are still learning about the possible risks and long-term effects.
Ahmed explained that researchers need to better understand how different doses affect the brain. They also want to know whether repeated doses could increase the benefits or whether too much exposure might eventually become harmful.
Another important question is how these compounds work together with psychotherapy or counseling. Many experts believe the drugs alone may not be enough and that guided therapy may help patients use the experience in a healthy and productive way.
Scientists also warn that psychedelic drugs can have risks, especially if used without medical supervision. Some people may experience fear, confusion, or psychological distress. Because of this, researchers stress that psychedelic treatment should only happen in safe clinical settings under professional care.
Still, the new findings offer hope that psychedelic compounds may one day become useful tools for improving brain flexibility and mental health.
If future studies in humans show similar results, these treatments could help people whose brains have become trapped in unhealthy patterns linked to depression, PTSD, and other disorders.
The study was published in the journal Psychedelics.
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