Investigating molecular and hemodynamic effects of LSD in the human brain

Paper. McCulloch DE, Larsen K, Johansen A et al.. Nature Neuroscience, 12 Oct 2026.

Tags: Human, Psilocybin, LSD.

Weekly Science Digest, 10 Oct 2026 to 16 Oct 2026, finding 2: What LSD actually occupies in the human brain

The first in vivo PET measure of LSD's 5-HT2A occupancy came from seven volunteers.

Simultaneous PET-MRI showed high-affinity 5-HT2A occupancy, raised global cerebral blood flow and carotid flow, and reduced global connectivity. Plasma levels and subjective effects traced an anticlockwise hysteresis loop — effects lagging and outlasting drug concentration.

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