#neuralplasticity — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #neuralplasticity, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: August 1, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Ayahuasca might protect the brain from stress-induced damage, primate study finds
A study of common marmosets (a species of small New World monkey native to Brazil) found that giving ayahuasca before and during a period of isolation (meant to induce chronic social stress) might have prevented cortical atrophy caused by stress. While ayahuasca’s ability to preserve individual cell size (neuronal volume) was statistically significant, its effects on overall cortical volume and neuronal density could not be statistically confirmed as there were only two marmosets per experimental group. The paper was published in Translational Psychiatry.
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant brew traditionally used for spiritual and healing purposes by indigenous communities in the Amazon region. It is commonly prepared by combining the vine Banisteriopsis caapi with leaves of Psychotria viridis or another plant containing the psychedelic compound dimethyltryptamine, or DMT.
DMT primarily produces its effects by acting on serotonin receptors in the brain, especially the 5-HT2A receptor. When swallowed alone, DMT is normally broken down rapidly in the digestive system by monoamine oxidase enzymes. Harmala alkaloids in the vine inhibit monoamine oxidase, allowing DMT to remain active and produce effects lasting several hours. These effects typically include vivid visual experiences, altered perceptions of time and self, intense emotions, and feelings interpreted as spiritual insight.
Although preliminary research has examined possible applications of ayahuasca for treating depression, addiction, and related conditions, the evidence remains limited and ayahuasca is not an established substitute for standard medical or psychological treatment. Its legal status varies between countries, and its effects and risks depend on the brew’s composition, the user’s health, other substances taken, and the setting in which it is consumed.
Study author Luiz Roberto Fernandes Pereira and his colleagues note that various brain regions undergo changes in individuals suffering from depression. Among these regions, the somatosensory cortex stands out, as studies indicate that there is a 30% loss of dendritic spines (parts of neurons) in somatosensory neurons during depressive states, impairing signal processing in this brain region substantially. These authors wanted to explore whether ayahuasca, given its known effects on perception, might mitigate the adverse effects of depression on this region of the brain.
They conducted a study on 6 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), a small New World monkey native to northeastern Brazil. Study authors note that this particular species of primates is very convenient for scientific inquiry because their brains do not have gyri and convolutions, facilitating the examination of the areas of the brain of interest. They are also common, reproduce easily, and sexually mature by 1.5-2 years of age.
The marmosets were divided into three groups of 2 – the isolation group, the family group, and the ayahuasca group. They were between 7 and 9 months old at the start of the study and classified as juveniles. All 6 marmosets were housed with their families for the first 4 weeks of the study. After that, the family group remained with their families for the next 9 weeks.
The isolation and ayahuasca groups were separated from their families and kept in cages, completely isolated from other animals. The cages were enriched with natural tree branches, wooden swings, and a nest box to provide rest and comfort. The point of keeping them in isolation was to cause chronic stress and induce a psychophysiological condition akin to depression in humans.
The ayahuasca group received three doses of ayahuasca tea (1.67 mL/300g) by oral gavage (i.e., poured directly into their stomachs through a tube passed via the mouth and esophagus). They received the first ayahuasca dose three days before the start of the isolation. The two additional doses were given 25 and 50 days later. At the end of the experiment, the marmosets were euthanized using sodium thiopental and their tissues were examined by study authors.
Results showed that the marmosets in the isolation group suffered a significant reduction in neuronal volume (the volume of individual brain cells) compared to the family group, while the ayahuasca group had neuronal volume similar to the family group. This indicates that ayahuasca might have mitigated the adverse effects of isolation on neuronal volume.
“Although differences in neuronal density and cortical volume could not be statistically confirmed [because an overall sample size of two animals per group is too small to statistically evaluate whole-brain macrostructures], trends indicated potential preservation of cortical structure in the AG [the ayahuasca group]. These preliminary findings underscore ayahuasca’s potential to mitigate stress-induced cortical atrophy and highlight its influence on neural plasticity,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of potential therapeutic effects of ayahuasca. However, it should be noted that the study was conducted on marmosets, not on humans. While humans and marmosets share many physiological similarities, they are still very different species. Findings on humans might differ.
The paper, “Preliminary analysis of ayahuasca-induced anatomical alterations in the somatosensory cortex of juvenile non-human primates (Callithrix jacchus) subjected to chronic stress,” was authored by Luiz Roberto Fernandes Pereira, Wigínio Gabriel Lira-Bandeira, Andréa Silva Medeiros-Bandeira, Lílian Andrade Carlos de Mendonça, Fernando Vagner Lobo Ladd, Maria Lara Porpino de Meiroz Grilo, Jeferson Souza Cavalcante, Nicole Leite Galvão-Coelho, and Expedito Silva Nascimento Jr.
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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AyahuascaNeuroscience #StressInducedCorticalAtrophy #MarmosetStudy #NeuralPlasticity #SomatosensoryCortex #PsychedelicResearch #DepressionTreatmentResearch #TranslationalPsychiatry #AyahuascaTherapy #BrainHealthResearch
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DATE: August 1, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Ayahuasca might protect the brain from stress-induced damage, primate study finds
A study of common marmosets (a species of small New World monkey native to Brazil) found that giving ayahuasca before and during a period of isolation (meant to induce chronic social stress) might have prevented cortical atrophy caused by stress. While ayahuasca’s ability to preserve individual cell size (neuronal volume) was statistically significant, its effects on overall cortical volume and neuronal density could not be statistically confirmed as there were only two marmosets per experimental group. The paper was published in Translational Psychiatry.
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant brew traditionally used for spiritual and healing purposes by indigenous communities in the Amazon region. It is commonly prepared by combining the vine Banisteriopsis caapi with leaves of Psychotria viridis or another plant containing the psychedelic compound dimethyltryptamine, or DMT.
DMT primarily produces its effects by acting on serotonin receptors in the brain, especially the 5-HT2A receptor. When swallowed alone, DMT is normally broken down rapidly in the digestive system by monoamine oxidase enzymes. Harmala alkaloids in the vine inhibit monoamine oxidase, allowing DMT to remain active and produce effects lasting several hours. These effects typically include vivid visual experiences, altered perceptions of time and self, intense emotions, and feelings interpreted as spiritual insight.
Although preliminary research has examined possible applications of ayahuasca for treating depression, addiction, and related conditions, the evidence remains limited and ayahuasca is not an established substitute for standard medical or psychological treatment. Its legal status varies between countries, and its effects and risks depend on the brew’s composition, the user’s health, other substances taken, and the setting in which it is consumed.
Study author Luiz Roberto Fernandes Pereira and his colleagues note that various brain regions undergo changes in individuals suffering from depression. Among these regions, the somatosensory cortex stands out, as studies indicate that there is a 30% loss of dendritic spines (parts of neurons) in somatosensory neurons during depressive states, impairing signal processing in this brain region substantially. These authors wanted to explore whether ayahuasca, given its known effects on perception, might mitigate the adverse effects of depression on this region of the brain.
They conducted a study on 6 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), a small New World monkey native to northeastern Brazil. Study authors note that this particular species of primates is very convenient for scientific inquiry because their brains do not have gyri and convolutions, facilitating the examination of the areas of the brain of interest. They are also common, reproduce easily, and sexually mature by 1.5-2 years of age.
The marmosets were divided into three groups of 2 – the isolation group, the family group, and the ayahuasca group. They were between 7 and 9 months old at the start of the study and classified as juveniles. All 6 marmosets were housed with their families for the first 4 weeks of the study. After that, the family group remained with their families for the next 9 weeks.
The isolation and ayahuasca groups were separated from their families and kept in cages, completely isolated from other animals. The cages were enriched with natural tree branches, wooden swings, and a nest box to provide rest and comfort. The point of keeping them in isolation was to cause chronic stress and induce a psychophysiological condition akin to depression in humans.
The ayahuasca group received three doses of ayahuasca tea (1.67 mL/300g) by oral gavage (i.e., poured directly into their stomachs through a tube passed via the mouth and esophagus). They received the first ayahuasca dose three days before the start of the isolation. The two additional doses were given 25 and 50 days later. At the end of the experiment, the marmosets were euthanized using sodium thiopental and their tissues were examined by study authors.
Results showed that the marmosets in the isolation group suffered a significant reduction in neuronal volume (the volume of individual brain cells) compared to the family group, while the ayahuasca group had neuronal volume similar to the family group. This indicates that ayahuasca might have mitigated the adverse effects of isolation on neuronal volume.
“Although differences in neuronal density and cortical volume could not be statistically confirmed [because an overall sample size of two animals per group is too small to statistically evaluate whole-brain macrostructures], trends indicated potential preservation of cortical structure in the AG [the ayahuasca group]. These preliminary findings underscore ayahuasca’s potential to mitigate stress-induced cortical atrophy and highlight its influence on neural plasticity,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of potential therapeutic effects of ayahuasca. However, it should be noted that the study was conducted on marmosets, not on humans. While humans and marmosets share many physiological similarities, they are still very different species. Findings on humans might differ.
The paper, “Preliminary analysis of ayahuasca-induced anatomical alterations in the somatosensory cortex of juvenile non-human primates (Callithrix jacchus) subjected to chronic stress,” was authored by Luiz Roberto Fernandes Pereira, Wigínio Gabriel Lira-Bandeira, Andréa Silva Medeiros-Bandeira, Lílian Andrade Carlos de Mendonça, Fernando Vagner Lobo Ladd, Maria Lara Porpino de Meiroz Grilo, Jeferson Souza Cavalcante, Nicole Leite Galvão-Coelho, and Expedito Silva Nascimento Jr.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AyahuascaNeuroscience #StressInducedCorticalAtrophy #MarmosetStudy #NeuralPlasticity #SomatosensoryCortex #PsychedelicResearch #DepressionTreatmentResearch #TranslationalPsychiatry #AyahuascaTherapy #BrainHealthResearch
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Just came across an elegant new #SNN framework called #nervos by Maskeen and Lashkare, which implements a two layer SNN w/ local #STDP #learning to classify, e.g., #MNIST digits. Here is an example, where I apply it to a 6-class subset of MNIST. The model reaches around 85% accuracy & the learned synapses show digit-like patterns. Quite impressive in my view, given the simplicity of the architecture & the local learning rule:
🌍https://www.fabriziomusacchio.com/blog/2026-02-16-nervos_stdp_snn_simulation_on_mnist/
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Just came across an elegant new #SNN framework called #nervos by Maskeen and Lashkare, which implements a two layer SNN w/ local #STDP #learning to classify, e.g., #MNIST digits. Here is an example, where I apply it to a 6-class subset of MNIST. The model reaches around 85% accuracy & the learned synapses show digit-like patterns. Quite impressive in my view, given the simplicity of the architecture & the local learning rule:
🌍https://www.fabriziomusacchio.com/blog/2026-02-16-nervos_stdp_snn_simulation_on_mnist/
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Spike-timing-dependent #plasticity (#STDP) is a core rule in #ComputationalNeuroscience that adjusts #synaptic strength based on precise pre- vs. postsynaptic #spike timing, enabling #TemporalCoding and #learning in #SNN. In this post, I summarize its mathematical formulation, functional consequences for learning and #memory along with a simple #Python example:
🌍 https://www.fabriziomusacchio.com/blog/2026-02-12-stdp/
#CompNeuro #Neuroscience #SNN #NeuralDynamics #NeuralPlasticity
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Spike-timing-dependent #plasticity (#STDP) is a core rule in #ComputationalNeuroscience that adjusts #synaptic strength based on precise pre- vs. postsynaptic #spike timing, enabling #TemporalCoding and #learning in #SNN. In this post, I summarize its mathematical formulation, functional consequences for learning and #memory along with a simple #Python example:
🌍 https://www.fabriziomusacchio.com/blog/2026-02-12-stdp/
#CompNeuro #Neuroscience #SNN #NeuralDynamics #NeuralPlasticity
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#NeuralPlasticity & #learning are distinct but interrelated processes. #Plasticity denotes biological change in #NeuralSystems, while learning is its functional expression in #NetworkDynamics & #behavior. Learning arises from coordinated plastic processes, reshaping #NeuralStateSpace & #attractors to support stable yet flexible representations. Here's a new post on these concepts & their implications for #ComputationalNeuroscience:
🌍https://www.fabriziomusacchio.com/blog/2026-02-02-neural_plasticity_and_learning/
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#NeuralPlasticity & #learning are distinct but interrelated processes. #Plasticity denotes biological change in #NeuralSystems, while learning is its functional expression in #NetworkDynamics & #behavior. Learning arises from coordinated plastic processes, reshaping #NeuralStateSpace & #attractors to support stable yet flexible representations. Here's a new post on these concepts & their implications for #ComputationalNeuroscience:
🌍https://www.fabriziomusacchio.com/blog/2026-02-02-neural_plasticity_and_learning/
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DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation: The Molecular Switches of Gene Expression
#DNA #Epigenetics #GeneRegulation #Methylation #Hydroxymethylation #TET enzymes #DNARepair #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #Genetics #Cognition #Biology #MolecularBiology #GeneticResearch #NeuralPlasticity
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39558048/ Structural neural plasticity evoked by rapid-acting antidepressant interventions (Liao, et al, 2024) #ketamine #psychedelic #psychedelics #neuroscience #mentalhealth #psychedelicmentalhealth #neuralplasticity #depression Follow along on https://psychedelicmentalhealth.net
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🧠💦 Swimming boosts brain health! 🏊♀️🧠 A growing body of research shows that regular swimming can improve memory, cognitive function, mood, and even reverse brain aging. 🧠🏊♂️ Swimming stimulates neurogenesis, increases BDNF levels, and enhances neural plasticity. 🧠💪 It's the closest thing to a fountain of youth! 🏊♀️🧠 #SwimForYourBrain #BrainHealth #CognitiveBoost #NeuralPlasticity #BDNF #FountainOfYouth
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🧠💦 Swimming boosts brain health! 🏊♀️🧠 A growing body of research shows that regular swimming can improve memory, cognitive function, mood, and even reverse brain aging. 🧠🏊♂️ Swimming stimulates neurogenesis, increases BDNF levels, and enhances neural plasticity. 🧠💪 It's the closest thing to a fountain of youth! 🏊♀️🧠 #SwimForYourBrain #BrainHealth #CognitiveBoost #NeuralPlasticity #BDNF #FountainOfYouth
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We've seen the GOP go all in on autocracy and fascism. We can only understand the true danger we face when we realize how easily the language of dehumanization of a group can become hardwired and become very difficult to dislodge.
Help a part-time blogger, full-time citizen out and boost this post, okay?