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Yu Z, Burback L, Winkler O, Xu L, Dennett L, Vermetten E, Greenshaw A, Li XM, Milne M, Wang F, Cao B, Winship IR, Zhang Y, Chan AW. Alterations in brain network connectivity and subjective experience induced by psychedelics: a scoping review. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1386321. [PMID: 38807690 PMCID: PMC11131165 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1386321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Intense interest surrounds current research on psychedelics, particularly regarding their potential in treating mental health disorders. Various studies suggest a link between the subjective effects produced by psychedelics and their therapeutic efficacy. Neuroimaging evidence indicates an association of changes in brain functional connectivity with the subjective effects of psychedelics. We conducted a review focusing on psychedelics and brain functional connectivity. The review focused on four psychedelic drugs: ayahuasca, psilocybin and LSD, and the entactogen MDMA. We conducted searches in databases of MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo and Scopus from inception to Jun 2023 by keywords related to functional connectivity and psychedelics. Using the PRISMA framework, we selected 24 articles from an initial pool of 492 for analysis. This scoping review and analysis investigated the effects of psychedelics on subjective experiences and brain functional connectivity in healthy individuals. The studies quantified subjective effects through psychometric scales, revealing significant experiences of altered consciousness, mood elevation, and mystical experiences induced by psychedelics. Neuroimaging results indicated alterations in the functional connectivity of psychedelics, with consistent findings across substances of decreased connectivity within the default mode network and increased sensory and thalamocortical connectivity. Correlations between these neurophysiological changes and subjective experiences were noted, suggesting a brain network basis of the psychedelics' neuropsychological impact. While the result of the review provides a potential neural mechanism of the subjective effects of psychedelics, direct clinical evidence is needed to advance their clinical outcomes. Our research serves as a foundation for further exploration of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijia Yu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lisa Burback
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Olga Winkler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lujie Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Liz Dennett
- Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Eric Vermetten
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Andrew Greenshaw
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Xin-Min Li
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Michaela Milne
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Institute of Human Nutrition at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Fei Wang
- Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Brain Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Cao
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ian R. Winship
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Yanbo Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Allen W. Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Wingrove J, O'Daly O, De Lara Rubio A, Hill S, Swedroska M, Forbes B, Amiel S, Zelaya F. The influence of insulin on anticipation and consummatory reward to food intake: A functional imaging study on healthy normal weight and overweight subjects employing intranasal insulin delivery. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:5432-5451. [PMID: 35860945 PMCID: PMC9704782 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant responses within homeostatic, hedonic and cognitive systems contribute to poor appetite control in those with an overweight phenotype. The hedonic system incorporates limbic and meso-limbic regions involved in learning and reward processing, as well as cortical regions involved in motivation, decision making and gustatory processing. Equally important within this complex, multifaceted framework are the cognitive systems involved in inhibitory control and valuation of food choices. Regions within these systems display insulin receptors and pharmacologically increasing central insulin concentrations using intranasal administration (IN-INS) has been shown to significantly reduce appealing food cue responsiveness and also food intake. In this work we describe a placebo-controlled crossover pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study that looks at how IN-INS (160 IU) affects anticipatory and consummatory responses to sweet stimuli and importantly how these responses differ between healthy normal weight and overweight male individuals. This work shows that age matched normal weight and overweight (not obese) individuals respond similarly to both the anticipation and receipt of sweet stimuli under placebo conditions. However, increased central insulin concentrations produce marked differences between groups when anticipating sweet stimuli within the prefrontal cortex and midbrain as well as observed differences in the amygdala during consummatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed Wingrove
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology and Neuroscience King's College LondonLondonUK,Centre for Obesity Research, Department of MedicineUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Owen O'Daly
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology and Neuroscience King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Alfonso De Lara Rubio
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology and Neuroscience King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Simon Hill
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology and Neuroscience King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Magda Swedroska
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Ben Forbes
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Stephanie Amiel
- Diabetes Research Group, Weston Education CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Fernando Zelaya
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology and Neuroscience King's College LondonLondonUK
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Wingrove JO, O'Daly O, Forbes B, Swedrowska M, Amiel SA, Zelaya FO. Intranasal insulin administration decreases cerebral blood flow in cortico-limbic regions: A neuropharmacological imaging study in normal and overweight males. Diabetes Obes Metab 2021; 23:175-185. [PMID: 33026175 DOI: 10.1111/dom.14213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIM To assess and compare the effects of 160 IU intranasal insulin (IN-INS) administration on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in healthy male individuals with normal weight and overweight phenotypes. METHODS Thirty young male participants (mean age 25.9 years) were recruited and stratified into two cohorts based on body mass index: normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2 ) and overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2 ). On separate mornings participants received 160 IU of IN-INS using an intranasal protocol and intranasal placebo as part of a double-blind crossover design. Thirty minutes following administration rCBF data were collected using a magnetic resonance imaging method called pseudocontinuous arterial spin labelling. Blood samples were collected to assess insulin sensitivity and changes over time in peripheral glucose, insulin and C-peptide. RESULTS Insulin sensitivity did not significantly differ between groups. Compared with placebo, IN-INS administration reduced rCBF in parts of the hippocampus, insula, putamen, parahippocampal gyrus and fusiform gyrus in the overweight group. No effect was seen in the normal weight group. Insula rCBF was greater in the overweight group versus normal weight only under placebo conditions. Peripheral glucose and insulin levels were not affected by IN-INS. C-peptide levels in the normal weight group decreased significantly over time following IN-INS administration but not placebo. CONCLUSION Insulin-induced changes within key regions of the brain involved in gustation, memory and reward were observed in overweight healthy male individuals. Following placebo administration, differences in gustatory rCBF were observed between overweight and normal weight healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed O Wingrove
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Centre for Obesity Research, University College London, London, UK
- Diabetes Research Group, King's College Hospital Campus, Weston Education Central, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Owen O'Daly
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ben Forbes
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Magda Swedrowska
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Stephanie A Amiel
- Diabetes Research Group, King's College Hospital Campus, Weston Education Central, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, King's Health Partners, London, UK
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Wandschneider B, Koepp MJ. Pharmaco fMRI: Determining the functional anatomy of the effects of medication. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2016; 12:691-697. [PMID: 27766202 PMCID: PMC5067101 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Functional MRI studies have helped to elucidate underlying mechanisms in complex neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Disease processes often involve complex large-scale network interactions, extending beyond the presumed main disease focus. Given both the complexity of the clinical phenotype and the underlying dysfunctional brain circuits, so called pharmaco-fMRI (ph-MRI) studies probe pharmacological effects on functional neuro-anatomy, and can help to determine early treatment response, mechanisms of drug efficacy and side effects, and potentially advance CNS drug development. In this review, we discuss recent ph-MRI research in three major neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders and associated network alterations, namely selective serotonin and noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors in affective disorders and emotional processing circuits; antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy and cognitive networks; and stimulants in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and networks of attention control. We conclude that ph-MRI studies show consistent and reproducible changes on disease relevant networks, and prove sensitive to early pharmacological effects on functional anatomy associated with disease. Further CNS drug research and development would benefit greatly from improved disease phenotyping, or biomarkers, using advanced imaging techniques.
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Key Words
- ACC, anterior cingulate cortex
- ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- AED, antiepileptic drugs
- BOLD, blood oxygen level-dependent signal
- Biomarker
- CBZ, carbamazepine
- CNS drug research
- CNS, central nervous system
- DAT, dopamine transporter
- Functional MRI
- JME, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
- LEV, levetiracetam
- LTG, lamotrigine
- NaRI, noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors
- Neuroimaging
- OXC, oxcarbazepine
- Ph-MRI, pharmacological functional MRI
- Pharmacological
- SSRI, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- TLE, temporal lobe epilepsy
- TMS, transcranial magnetic stimulation
- TPM, topiramate
- VPA, valproate
- ZNS, zonisamide
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta Wandschneider
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; MRI Unit, Epilepsy Society, Chalfont St Peter, UK
| | - Matthias J Koepp
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; MRI Unit, Epilepsy Society, Chalfont St Peter, UK
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van Amelsvoort T, Hernaus D. Effect of Pharmacological Interventions on the Fronto-Cingulo-Parietal Cognitive Control Network in Psychiatric Disorders: A Transdiagnostic Systematic Review of fMRI Studies. Front Psychiatry 2016; 7:82. [PMID: 27242552 PMCID: PMC4870274 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Executive function deficits, such as working memory, decision-making, and attention problems, are a common feature of several psychiatric disorders for which no satisfactory treatment exists. Here, we transdiagnostically investigate the effects of pharmacological interventions (other than methylphenidate) on the fronto-cingulo-parietal cognitive control network, in order to identify functional brain markers for future procognitive pharmacological interventions. Twenty-nine manuscripts investigated the effect of pharmacological treatment on executive function-related brain correlates in psychotic disorders (n = 11), depression (n = 4), bipolar disorder (n = 4), ADHD (n = 4), OCD (n = 2), smoking dependence (n = 2), alcohol dependence (n = 1), and pathological gambling (n = 1). In terms of impact on the fronto-cingulo-parietal network, the preliminary evidence for catechol-O-methyl-transferase inhibitors, nicotinic receptor agonists, and atomoxetine was relatively consistent, the data for atypical antipsychotics and anticonvulsants moderate, and interpretation of the data for antidepressants was hampered by the employed study designs. Increased activity in task-relevant areas and decreased activity in task-irrelevant areas were the most common transdiagnostic effects of pharmacological treatment. These markers showed good positive and moderate negative predictive value. It is concluded that fronto-cingulo-parietal activity changes can serve as a marker for future procognitive interventions. Future recommendations include the use of randomized double-blind designs and selective cholinergic and glutamatergic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thérèse van Amelsvoort
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, School for Mental Health and NeuroScience MHeNS Maastricht University , Maastricht , Netherlands
| | - Dennis Hernaus
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, School for Mental Health and NeuroScience MHeNS Maastricht University , Maastricht , Netherlands
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Doyle OM, Mehta MA, Brammer MJ. The role of machine learning in neuroimaging for drug discovery and development. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:4179-89. [PMID: 26014110 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-3968-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Neuroimaging has been identified as a potentially powerful probe for the in vivo study of drug effects on the brain with utility across several phases of drug development spanning preclinical and clinical investigations. Specifically, neuroimaging can provide insight into drug penetration and distribution, target engagement, pharmacodynamics, mechanistic action and potential indicators of clinical efficacy. In this review, we focus on machine learning approaches for neuroimaging which enable us to make predictions at the individual level based on the distributed effects across the whole brain. Crucially, these approaches can be trained on data from one study and applied to an independent study and, unlike group-level statistics, can be readily use to assess the generalisability to unseen data. In this review, we present examples and suggestions for how machine learning could help answer fundamental questions spanning the drug discovery pipeline: (1) Who should I recruit for this study? (2) What should I measure and when should I measure it? (3) How does the pharmacological agent behave using an experimental medicine model?, and (4) How does a compound differ from and/or resemble existing compounds? Specifically, we present studies from the literature and we suggest areas for the focus of future development. Further refinement and tailoring of machine learning techniques may help realise their tremendous potential for drug discovery and drug validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orla M Doyle
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Mitul A Mehta
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Michael J Brammer
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
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Beltramini GC, Cendes F, Yasuda CL. The effects of antiepileptic drugs on cognitive functional magnetic resonance imaging. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2015; 5:238-46. [PMID: 25853082 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2223-4292.2015.01.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The cognitive dysfunction caused by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has been extensively described, although the mechanisms underlying such collateral effects are still poorly understood. The combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies with pharmacological intervention (pharmaco-MRI or ph-MRI) offers the opportunity to investigate the effect of drugs such as AEDs on brain activity, including cognitive tasks. Here we review the studies that investigated the effects of AEDs [topiramate (TPM), lamotrigine (LMT), carbamazepine (CBZ), pregabalin (PGB), valproate (VPA) and levetiracetam (LEV)] on cognitive fMRI tasks. Despite the scarcity of fMRI studies focusing on the impact of AEDs on cognitive task, the results of recent work have provided important information about specific drug-related changes of brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernando Cendes
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Lin Yasuda
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Bossong MG, Jager G, van Hell HH, Zuurman L, Jansma JM, Mehta MA, van Gerven JMA, Kahn RS, Ramsey NF. Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Administration on Human Encoding and Recall Memory Function: A Pharmacological fMRI Study. J Cogn Neurosci 2012; 24:588-99. [DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Deficits in memory function are an incapacitating aspect of various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Animal studies have recently provided strong evidence for involvement of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in memory function. Neuropsychological studies in humans have shown less convincing evidence but suggest that administration of cannabinoid substances affects encoding rather than recall of information. In this study, we examined the effects of perturbation of the eCB system on memory function during both encoding and recall. We performed a pharmacological MRI study with a placebo-controlled, crossover design, investigating the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) inhalation on associative memory-related brain function in 13 healthy volunteers. Performance and brain activation during associative memory were assessed using a pictorial memory task, consisting of separate encoding and recall conditions. Administration of THC caused reductions in activity during encoding in the right insula, the right inferior frontal gyrus, and the left middle occipital gyrus and a network-wide increase in activity during recall, which was most prominent in bilateral cuneus and precuneus. THC administration did not affect task performance, but while during placebo recall activity significantly explained variance in performance, this effect disappeared after THC. These findings suggest eCB involvement in encoding of pictorial information. Increased precuneus activity could reflect impaired recall function, but the absence of THC effects on task performance suggests a compensatory mechanism. These results further emphasize the eCB system as a potential novel target for treatment of memory disorders and a promising target for development of new therapies to reduce memory deficits in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerry Jager
- 1University Medical Center Utrecht
- 2Wageningen University
| | | | - Lineke Zuurman
- 3Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, the Netherlands
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