5HT2A Receptors in Brain's Anterior Cingulate: Key to Psychedelic Therapy
How Do 5HT2A Receptors in the Brain’s Anterior Cingulate Drive Psychedelic Therapy?
A comprehensive scoping review examines the therapeutic effects of 5HT2A receptor activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the mechanisms underlying psychedelic drugs’ antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. The research suggests that 5HT2A receptors in the ACC produce profound changes in excitatory neurotransmission and brain network connectivity, reducing anxious preoccupation and obsessional thoughts while promoting cognitive flexibility and long-lasting mood improvements in anhedonia through complex interactions with glutamate and GABA neurotransmission.