Biochemistry

"Classical" psychedelics, tryptamines and phenethylamines, represent a family of psychoactive substances with structural similarities to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5HT) and affinity for serotonin receptors (Vorobyeva, 2022). At the biochemical level, these psychedelics primarily act as 5HT2a receptors (a subgroup of 5HT receptors), affecting serotonergic circuits in the brain and thus causing their mind-altering effects.

Neuroscience

Neurotransmitter systems are complex and reductionist analysis cannot yet fully describe profoundly altered states of consciousness. A neuroscientific perspective will perhaps give us more of a sense of how psychedelic medicines affect the human mind. A growing body of research is now looking at how psychedelics affect neural networks and patterns of functioning.

Video

Hear from experts, Drs. David Nutt and Scott Shannon , on how psychedelics may act therapeutically from a neuroscientific perspective.

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