We’re in the midst of a psychedelic research renaissance, which means we’re going to see more and more high-profile research studies come out — both human clinical studies and basic research in lab animals.
In a new basic research study, scientists dissected the brain circuits and molecular basis for alcohol addiction in rats. They showed that a simple pharmacological intervention, a large dose of psilocybin, can help normalize the behavioral and molecular abnormalities of these rats.
The full study can be read here (if there are paywall issues, use this) and I will summarize some of its key results below, together with commentary on how the results speak to some outstanding questions in the realm of psychedelic medicine.
Background
Alcohol is one of the most widely consumed psychoactive drugs and accounts for an astonishing 5.3% of all deaths annually. A minority of regular alcohol drinkers develop Alcohol Use Disorder, which is defined by heavy alcohol consumption, loss of control over…
