Johns Hopkins researchers have conducted a new study that reveals how psychedelics can affect the brain’s ability to learn from social experiences. The study, led by Gul Dolen and published in the scientific journal Nature, suggests that psychedelics have the potential to reopen certain periods of brain development that are critical for learning and social behavior.
The researchers conducted experiments on mice and found that as the mice aged, their preference for social interactions declined. However, when the mice were given psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine, their openness to social interactions was restored in adulthood.
Scientists have long been interested in identifying methods to reopen critical periods in brain development for therapeutic purposes. These critical periods are specific times during brain development when the brain is highly sensitive to learning and can undergo significant changes in synaptic connections and behavior.
Recently, the researchers discovered a critical period for social reward learning and demonstrated that the empathogenic psychedelic MDMA can reopen this critical period. This suggests that psychedelics have the ability to reestablish or reopen critical periods in the brain, making it more receptive to learning and social experiences. The study also found that the duration of psychedelic effects is related to the reopening of the critical period. This indicates that the psychedelic effects themselves may play a crucial role in the potential benefits observed. The findings could potentially contribute to the development of psychedelics with shorter durations or non-psychedelic properties while still retaining their therapeutic potential.
