Neural mechanisms of psychedelics

We will soon begin to study the neural mechanisms underlying the action of serotonergic psychedelics (psilocybin/psilocin) in the mouse and human brain. We are interested in how psychedelics affect neural excitability and neuroplasticity (mice and humans) as well as learning and memory (mice). To test this, we use a combination of slice electrophysiology, pharmacology and behavioural tests in mice. To study these mechanisms in the human brain, we obtain small chunks of living human brain tissue resected during neurosurgeries. This allows us to prepare acute human brain slices and record neural activity for several hours. This is done in collaboration with the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University and the Neurosurgery Department at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.