Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents01:22

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

254
Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...
254
Hallucinogens and Psychedelics01:27

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

291
Hallucinogens are psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perceptual experiences, generating unreal visual and sensory images. Often referred to as psychedelic drugs — a term derived from the Greek words "psyche" (mind) and "delos" (revealing) — these substances include marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), among others. These drugs vary in intensity and effects.
Marijuana, derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, contains...
291
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis01:20

Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis

2.2K
Tachyphylaxis is described as a rapid decrease in response to a drug after repeated or continuous administration of the same drug dose. It is a phenomenon where the body becomes less responsive to a particular substance or intervention over time, requiring higher doses or stronger interventions to achieve the same effect. It results from adaptive changes in the body's receptors, signaling pathways, or physiological processes that occur in response to prolonged exposure to a stimulus.
2.2K
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria01:30

Other Stress Responses in Bacteria

70
Bacteria have global regulatory systems that control several types of stress mechanisms. These include Pho regulon and the heat shock response, which are essential systems for environmental adaptation, such as nutrient limitation and proteotoxic stress. The Pho regulon and the heat shock response exemplify bacterial resilience, enabling rapid adaptation to fluctuating environmental conditions.Pho RegulonBacteria require phosphorus for essential cellular processes, including nucleic acid...
70
The Placebo Effect01:54

The Placebo Effect

6.3K
The placebo effect occurs when people's expectations or beliefs influence or determine their experience in a given situation. In other words, simply expecting something to happen can actually make it happen.
6.3K
The Two-State Receptor Model01:29

The Two-State Receptor Model

2.4K
The two-state receptor model explains a drug's interaction with receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels, to induce or inhibit a biological response. When no natural ligands are present, a receptor exists in an equilibrium of inactive (Ri) and active (Ra) conformations. The inactive form does not produce a response, while the active form generates a basal effect known as constitutive activity.
The binding affinity of a drug determines its interaction with...
2.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Rationale, design, and statistical analysis plan for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Limosilactobacillus reuteri to support mother-infant bonding and maternal socioemotional functioning in postpartum women at increased risk for postpartum depression.

Contemporary clinical trials·2026
Same author

From Molecules to Meaning: Integrating Neuropeptides, Sociostasis, and Hormesis in the Brain-Heart Axis.

Current issues in molecular biology·2026
Same author

Beyond oxytocin: A hypothalamic neuropeptide framework for socioaffective resonance and its dysregulation in psychiatry.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2026
Same author

Correction: Nazarloo et al. Oxytocin, Vasopressin and Stress: A Hormetic Perspective. <i>Curr. Issues Mol. Biol.</i> 2025, <i>47</i>, 632.

Current issues in molecular biology·2026
Same author

Reply to Lago, T.R.; Bolognani, F. Comment on "Nazarloo et al. Oxytocin, Vasopressin and Stress: A Hormetic Perspective. <i>Curr. Issues Mol. Biol.</i> 2025, <i>47</i>, 632".

Current issues in molecular biology·2026
Same author

Somatic Psychoeducational Intervention Is Associated with Increased Oxytocin Levels, Improved Autonomic Function, and Reduced Psychological Distress Symptoms in Medical and Social Care Professionals.

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 17, 2025

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation
08:48

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation

Published on: January 26, 2016

12.0K

The psychedelic-peptide paradox: a hormetic hypothesis.

C Sue Carter1

  • 1Kinsey Institute, Indiana University and Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, USA.

Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology
|June 30, 2025
PubMed
Summary

This review explores how vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) influence psychedelic effects. These neuropeptides may play key roles in the anxiety and stress responses associated with psychedelic use.

Keywords:
HormesisOxytocinPsychedelicsStressVasopressin

More Related Videos

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants
18:01

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

Published on: August 18, 2008

14.3K
An Inexpensive Adaptation of a Commercial Microwave Reactor for Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis
06:17

An Inexpensive Adaptation of a Commercial Microwave Reactor for Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis

Published on: November 22, 2024

550

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 17, 2025

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation
08:48

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation

Published on: January 26, 2016

12.0K
Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants
18:01

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

Published on: August 18, 2008

14.3K
An Inexpensive Adaptation of a Commercial Microwave Reactor for Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis
06:17

An Inexpensive Adaptation of a Commercial Microwave Reactor for Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis

Published on: November 22, 2024

550

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Psychedelic substances can induce transient psychological and physiological effects, including anxiety and nausea.
  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and neuropeptides like vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) are implicated in stress responses.
  • Oxytocin (OT) release is often observed after stressful experiences, and its effects are modulated by VP.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the hypothesis that VP and OT systems are central to the behavioral and physiological outcomes of psychedelic interventions.
  • To explore the potential involvement of VP and OT in acute psychedelic side effects like anxiety and sickness responses.
  • To examine the role of the VP-OT system in stress response hormesis and its interaction with psychedelics.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of existing scientific literature.
  • Examination of the interplay between neuropeptide systems (VP-OT) and psychedelic drug actions.
  • Analysis of the contribution of the autonomic and immune systems to psychedelic effects via the VP-OT axis.

Main Results:

  • The VP-OT system, alongside the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, may mediate acute psychedelic-induced anxiety and sickness.
  • Stressful experiences, including those from psychedelic use, can trigger OT release, with effects modulated by VP.
  • Interactions between the VP-OT system, autonomic nervous system, and immune system contribute to stress response hormesis.

Conclusions:

  • The VP-OT system is hypothesized to play a significant role in the acute and potentially long-term consequences of psychedelic use.
  • Understanding the VP-OT system's involvement could refine models of psychedelic action and inform therapeutic applications.
  • Hormetic principles applied to the VP-OT system and psychedelics may offer novel treatment strategies for emotional and physical disorders.