The head twitch response; a test used to assess classical psychedelic activity in rodents, is triggered by classical psychedelics independently of beta-Arrestin recruitment and is only produced by serotonin itself in the presence of beta- Arrestins. This may better explain the difference between the pharmacology of serotonergic neurotransmission and that of classical psychedelics (even if promoted by drugs like SSRIs). However, more recent research suggests that binding to the 5HT2A-mGlu2 heterodimer is also necessary for classical psychedelic activity. The pharmacological differences between the two may also be relevant here. The hypothalamic Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) is the center of sleep/wake cycling, which is also known as the circadian rhythm. Melatonin levels are 2000%-4,000% higher at night than they are during the day. In addition to the significant pharmacological possibilities of gene expression pathways, a gene's association with its protein makes gene knockout possible as an important analytical tool. When a particular gene cannot be expressed, homolog recombination can be used to create living specimens. After that, the organism will not have the associated protein, which could be a specific receptor. This approach avoids chemical blockade, which can result in secondary effects that are baffling or ambiguous, to study the effects of receptor deficiency more thoroughly.

The scope of this activity has expanded even further to encompass the very blueprint of life since the mechanism that underpins gene transcription was discovered. The Human Genome Project has compiled the entire human DNA sequence, despite the fact that many of the estimated 35,000 genes have yet to be identified. This means that the investigation now has a solid foundation because the fundamental machinery for the synthesis of cellular proteins from nuclear DNA is the same for all cells. Phencyclidine was found to cause abnormal vacuolization and cell death in hippocampal and other neurons in striatopallidal cells. Depending on the individual's brain chemistry and drug use, it may manifest differently. Regarding MDMA, does short-term use cause permanent loss of 5HT and SERT, as well as a reduction in serotonergic axons and terminals that may be of compromised function. Neural circuits numerous brain functions have only recently been linked to motor and speech abilities in some way. Due to the addition of clinical, behavioral, and genetic correlates of receptor action to the functional associations of brain anatomy, our understanding of neural signaling is now complete. As can be seen in the following abstracts, these pathways may be the easiest to interpret because they are the most recognizable from a systems analysis perspective. It has been discovered that almost all drugs with a known potential for abuse are modulated (directly or indirectly) by the mesolimbic dopamine system, which includes and connects the ventral tegmental area in the midbrain to the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, and amygdala in the forebrain as well as the nucleus accumbens in the ventral striatum of the basal ganglia. In particular, the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) helps people associate particular behaviors or stimuli with feelings of pleasure and reward by combining experiential memory from the hippocampus, emotion from the amygdala, and context from the PFC. This reward indicator system can also be continuously activated by an addictive drug, encoding previously neutral stimuli as signals that the brain is about to receive a reward.

With Regards,
Joseph Kent
Journal Manager
Journal of Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Sciences