Repeated lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) reverses stress-induced anxiety-like behavior, cortical synaptogenesis deficits and serotonergic neurotransmission decline
A study published yesterday suggests that microdosing LSD reduces stress-induced anxiety and promotes neuroplasticity.
McGill University researchers found that giving rats a microdose 7 days in a row was able to prevent anxiety-like behaviour when exposed to chronic stress conditions, but a single dose had no behavioural effect.
They also found that repeated microdoses prevented two neurobiological changes that occur with stress: the loss of dendritic spines (the branches on neurons that conduct electrical signals) and the decrease in serotonin transmission.
“We have shown that LSD can rebuild these branches that are ‘dismantled’ due to stress. This is a sign of brain plasticity,” explains one of the researchers.
Interestingly, a single microdose actually decreased serotonin neurotransmission – it was only the repeated regimen that increased the firing of serotonin neurons. So if you’re going to microdose, you may want to try it multiple days in a row 😉
If you’re looking to start microdosing, follow @chloedeutscher on TikTok for advice from an industry expert.
