Psychedelic drug calms hyperactive brain cells linked to chronic pain
A single dose of psilocybin rapidly relieved both chronic pain and depression-like symptoms in mice. Researchers discovered the psychedelic compound works by calming hyperactive neurons in a specific brain region associated with both conditions.
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience suggests that a single dose of the psychedelic compound psilocybin can rapidly alleviate chronic pain and the accompanying anxiety and depression symptoms. The research team from the University of Pennsylvania investigated the potential of psilocybin to target shared brain circuits responsible for chronic pain and associated mood disorders.
By inducing chronic pain in laboratory mice through surgical nerve injury or specialized injections, the scientists observed that the mice exhibited heightened sensitivity to touch and displayed anxiety and depression-like behaviors. After administering a single systemic injection of psilocybin, the mice experienced a complete reversal of pain sensitivity and returned to normal mood-related behaviors within 12 days.
These findings indicate that psilocybin may offer a promising approach to treating chronic pain and its co-occurring mental health issues by addressing the underlying brain circuitry responsible for these conditions.
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