peer-reviewed-myopia t1_j8wac9x wrote on February 17, 2023 at 12:15 PM

Reply to comment by rjmsci in Psychedelics activate the same receptors as serotonin, so why aren't we always tripping? Psychedelics may cause neuronal plasticity and relieve depression by activating intracellular serotonin receptors that serotonin itself cannot, suggests a new study. by rjmsci

I think it's a mistake to say compounds that primarily modulate the serotonin system relieve depression.

Considering the delayed 'time of effect' of the therapeutic actions of compounds targeting the serotonin system, it's clear the adaptive structural / functional changes are not specific to serotonergic signaling — be it at the synaptic, or intracellular level.

For example, underlying these changes in plasticity are interactions with the BDNF system, as pretty much all effective antidepressant therapies lead to increases in levels of BDNF mRNA.

There are plenty of other systems at play, and they interact via a variety of feedback mechanisms to regulate the circuits involved in affective behaviors.