Serotonin Modulation of Drug-Evoked Synaptic Plasticity in Cocaine Addiction

INSIGHT 2023 Replay from the Basic Research Track:

Talk – Addiction, Synaptic Plasticity, and the Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics
Prof. Christian Lüscher
Group Leader, University of Geneva

What happens at the molecular level when addiction takes hold—and can psychedelics help reverse these changes? In this compelling talk, Prof. Christian Lüscher shares the latest findings from his lab’s research into reward-driven learning, drug-evoked synaptic plasticity, and the remodeling of mesocorticolimbic circuits that underlie compulsive behavior in addiction.

Using rodent models, Lüscher highlights how addictive substances like cocaine induce long-lasting changes in synaptic strength across the mesolimbic system, reshaping behavior. He also emphasizes the critical role of the dorsal striatum in driving compulsive drug-seeking, a hallmark of addiction. Notably, his work shows that serotonin can gate synaptic plasticity, helping to explain the lower addiction potential of drugs like cocaine, which elevate both dopamine and serotonin.

This serotonin-dependent modulation of plasticity introduces new therapeutic pathways—particularly the potential of psychedelics as modulators of neural circuits involved in addiction. The talk points toward promising avenues for treating compulsive behaviors by targeting the brain’s plasticity mechanisms directly.

This is only one of dozens of excellent contributions to the INSIGHT 2023 conference. Get full access to over 50 recordings of the latest discoveries in psychedelic science and therapy – from talks to panel discussions and whole symposia – with the INSIGHT 2023 Replays bundle for only 29 EUR:
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