How do Psychedelics work? Robin Carhart - Harris

Psychedelics function primarily by acting as agonists on the serotonin 2A receptor, a pattern which appears essential for their subjective effects. This interaction triggers increased neural plasticity, characterized by heightened synaptic growth and the ability for the brain to reorganize itself. These changes facilitate a state of increased plasticity under psychedelics, potentially allowing for the reversal of entrenched, maladaptive mental patterns observed in conditions like depression and addiction. Integration of these biological findings with psychological models like the REBUS model emphasizes that these substances work partly by relaxing rigid, top-down belief systems. This relaxation of expectations allows therapeutic environments to foster positive clinical outcomes.