Vigilance state dissociation induced by 5-MeO-DMT in mice
Benjamin J B Bréant1,2,3, José Prius Mengual4,5,6, Alexander Andrews4,5
1Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. benjamin.breant@icm-institute.org.
Communications Biology
|January 6, 2026
Summary
Psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT induce a dissociated brain state with slow brain waves and pupil dilation in awake mice. This state may explain psychedelic effects, including hallucinations and plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Psychedelics alter subjective experience and behavior.
- These changes are often viewed psychologically, not as distinct brain states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute effects of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) on brain activity and vigilance.
- To explore the potential for a dissociated brain state induced by psychedelics.
Main Methods:
- Chronic electrophysiological recordings from the neocortex in freely moving adult male mice.
- Concomitant pupillometry to assess vigilance.
- Administration of a short-acting psychedelic, 5-MeO-DMT.
Main Results:
- 5-MeO-DMT induced a dissociated state with prominent cortical slow oscillations and significant pupil dilation in awake, moving animals.
- Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was initially suppressed, followed by overcompensation within 48 hours.
- Administering 5-MeO-DMT post-sleep deprivation reduced the subsequent rebound of sleep slow-wave activity.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a unique dissociated state combining waking and sleep features underlies psychedelic effects.
- This state may be crucial for phenomena like hallucinations and plasticity reopening.
