Effects of Hallucinogens on Neuronal Activity

Psychotomimetic agents such as PCP and DOI alter cortical activity by increasing neuronal firing and decreasing low frequency oscillations in the prefrontal cortex.

• Noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists and serotonergic hallucinogens produce similar effects on cellular activity in the prefrontal cortex.
• PCP increases c-fos expression in excitatory neurons across various cortical and subcortical areas, especially in the thalamus.
• The action of PCP involves blocking NMDA receptors on GABAergic neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus, affecting thalamic inhibition.
• Similar disruptions in cortical activity have been noted in the primary visual cortex when exposed to these psychotomimetic agents.
• The alterations in prefrontal cortex activity caused by PCP, DOI, and 5-MeO-DMT can be reversed by both classical and atypical antipsychotic drugs.

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