A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine has shown that psychedelic drugs can reopen “critical periods” in the brain, enhancing learning from the environment. Critical periods are times when mammals are particularly receptive to new experiences and learning, essential for skills such as language acquisition and social behaviors. The study revealed that the duration these periods remain open varies among different psychedelics, lasting from two days to four weeks based on the specific drug administered. Key findings indicate potential therapeutic applications for conditions like stroke and deafness, expanding the current focus on depression, addiction, and PTSD treatment. The research examined five psychedelics: ibogaine, ketamine, LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin, identifying their ability to facilitate social learning in adult mice.
Neuroscientist Gül Dölen highlighted that the acute effects of these drugs might correlate with the length of the critical period they open. Exploration of molecular mechanisms showed differences in how these drugs influence serotonin receptors and gene expression related to brain cell support structures. The researchers emphasize that after psychedelic treatment, individuals may benefit from a dedicated healing period, suggesting it could be a crucial time for integrating new learning. The findings are set to be published in Nature.
