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The Attentional Set Shifting Task: A Measure of Cognitive Flexibility in Mice
Published on: February 4, 2015
27.6K
Single-dose psychedelic enhances cognitive flexibility and reversal learning in mice weeks after administration
Elizabeth J Brouns1, Tyler G Ekins1,2, Omar J Ahmed1,2,3,4,5
1Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
Psychedelics
|August 14, 2025
Summary
A single dose of the psychedelic compound 25CN-NBOH significantly improved cognitive flexibility in mice for weeks. This suggests potential for treating conditions like depression and PTSD by enhancing brain plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Neuropsychiatric disorders often involve impaired cognitive flexibility, a key prefrontal cortex (PFC) function.
- Psychedelic compounds show potential for treating these disorders by promoting neuroplasticity.
- Cognitive rigidity is a hallmark of conditions such as depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-lasting effects of a selective serotonin 2A receptor agonist, 25CN-NBOH, on cognitive flexibility.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in models of cognitive impairment.
Main Methods:
- A single administration of 25CN-NBOH to male and female mice.
- Utilized a novel automated sequential learning paradigm to assess cognitive flexibility.
- Measured behavioral outcomes including poke efficiency, trial accuracy, and reward acquisition 2-3 weeks post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Psychedelic-treated mice exhibited significant and sustained improvements in cognitive flexibility compared to controls.
- Enhanced adaptability in rule reversal tasks was observed, with increased poke efficiency and correct trials.
- Behavioral benefits persisted for weeks after a single dose, correlating with known psychedelic-induced structural remodeling in the PFC.
Conclusions:
- A single dose of 25CN-NBOH provides long-lasting cognitive flexibility benefits in mice.
- The findings support the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for conditions marked by cognitive rigidity.
- The automated behavioral task offers a scalable method for assessing psychedelic effects on cognitive flexibility.
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