Psychedelics and the Serotonin System

Vocabulary flashcards related to psychedelics, serotonin, and their mechanisms of action.

Serotonin (5-HT)

A neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, synthesized from tryptophan.

5-HT2A receptor

A metabotropic serotonin receptor that is crucial for the action of hallucinogens.

Psychedelics

Substances that alter perception, mood, and various cognitive processes, often acting on serotonin receptors.

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)

The enzyme that converts tryptophan into 5-HTP, the rate-limiting step in serotonin synthesis.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Medications that increase serotonin levels by inhibiting its reuptake in the brain, commonly used to treat depression.

5-HT transporters (SERT)

Transporters responsible for the reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft back into presynaptic neurons.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO)

An enzyme that breaks down monoamines, including serotonin, into inactive metabolites.

5-HT1A agonists

Compounds that activate 5-HT1A receptors, often used to reduce anxiety.

Gq-coupled receptors

A type of receptor, including 5-HT2A, that activates the Gq signaling pathway, important for neurotransmitter action.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences that appear real but are created by the mind, often induced by psychedelic drugs.

Default Mode Network (DMN)

A network of brain regions that is active when a person is at rest and not focused on the external environment.

mGluR2 receptor

A metabotropic glutamate receptor that interacts with 5-HT2A receptors in the mechanism of psychedelics.

5-HT2A antagonists

Drugs that block the effects of hallucinogens by binding to 5-HT2A receptors.

LSD

A potent hallucinogenic drug that acts primarily as an agonist at the 5-HT2A receptor.

Psilocybin

A psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms that acts on the serotonin system, particularly 5-HT2A receptors.