Researchers from Imperial College London think they’re onto something as they argue that a two-pronged model of how serotonin acts be incorporated into its present understanding.
They believe that this updated model will transform the way we treat mental illnesses, such as depression, addiction, and anxiety.
Serotonin acts through a variety of sites called receptors, two of which are especially important: serotonin 1A and 2A.
And drugs like antidepressants and antipsychotics interact with these serotonin receptors to ultimately help people cope better with mental health conditions.
These drugs help relieve symptoms by boosting levels of serotonin in the brain and specifically increasing activity at the serotonin 1A receptor.
And in their paper, they argue the possibility of effectively treating certain mental illnesses with psychedelics.
*This research paper “Serotonin and brain function: a tale of two receptors” by Robin Carhart-Harris and David Nutt is published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. »
