Lysergic acid diethylamide induces increased signalling entropy in rats' prefrontal cortex

Psychedelic drugs are gaining attention from the scientific community as potential new compounds for the treatment of psychiatric diseases such as mood and substance use disorders. The 5-HT2A receptor has been identified as the main molecular target, and early studies pointed to an effect on the expression of neuroplasticity genes. Analysing RNA-seq data from the prefrontal cortex of rats chronically treated with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), we describe the psychedelic-induced rewiring of gene co-expression networks, which become less centralised but more complex, with an overall increase in signalling entropy typical of highly plastic systems. Intriguingly, signalling entropy mirrors, at the molecular level, the increased brain entropy reported through neuroimaging studies in human, suggesting the underlying mechanisms of higher-order phenomena. Moreover, from the analysis of network topology, we identify potential transcriptional regulators and propose the involvement of different cell types in psychedelics' activity.

Automated summary

Psychedelic drugs are being considered as potential new compounds for treating psychiatric diseases, with studies showing an impact on neuroplasticity gene expression and the restructuring of gene co-expression networks. This rewiring is associated with an increase in signaling entropy, reflecting the complexity of highly plastic systems, and may shed light on the underlying mechanisms of higher-order phenomena.