Specific brain receptors in deep thinking neurons support psilocybin’s brain plasticity effects but not its hallucinogenic effects

Psilocybin promotes synapse formation and maturation while accelerating the elimination of pre-existing synapses.

• Serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT_2ARs) in cortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons are crucial for psilocybin-induced synaptic changes.
• Cell type-specific manipulation indicates that 5-HT_2AR signaling is necessary for synaptic remodeling caused by psilocybin.
• The head-twitch response, an indication of hallucination in rodents, does not depend on 5-HT_2AR signaling.

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