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Psychedelics and the thalamocortical system: A scoping review
Sofía Villalba1, Agustín Martínez Christensen1, Lucia Di Costanzo1
1Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET-Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|July 9, 2026
Summary
Psychedelics show therapeutic potential for various conditions by impacting the thalamocortical system. This review synthesizes evidence on how psychedelics affect brain connectivity, aiding understanding in psychiatry.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Psychedelics demonstrate therapeutic promise for depression, trauma, and substance use disorders.
- Alterations in the thalamocortical system are linked to psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia and autism.
- Understanding thalamic function is crucial for psychedelic research and biological psychiatry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize evidence on psychedelic effects on the thalamocortical system.
- To explore psychedelics with potential clinical applications, including NMDA receptor antagonists and serotonin 2A receptor agonists.
- To review preclinical and clinical findings on psychedelics' impact on thalamocortical connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Scoping review utilizing the PRISMA methodology.
- Inclusion of both preclinical and clinical studies.
- Focus on specific compound classes: NMDA receptor antagonists, serotonin 2A receptor agonists, and iboga alkaloids.
Main Results:
- Psychedelic administration influences thalamocortical connectivity.
- Evidence suggests a link between psychedelics and altered brain network function.
- Specific compounds show distinct effects on thalamocortical pathways.
Conclusions:
- Psychedelics modulate the thalamocortical system, offering therapeutic potential.
- Understanding these effects is vital for advancing psychedelic-assisted therapies.
- Thalamocortical function is a key target for psychedelic neurobiology and psychiatric treatment.
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