A single dose of a psychedelic compound can enhance cognitive flexibility for weeks after administration, according to new research from the University of Michigan, US. The team notes that their “groundbreaking” research could potentially revolutionize treatments for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases. Mice treated with one dose of 25CN-NBOH, a selective serotonin 2A receptor agonist, showed significantly improved performance in reversal learning tasks two to three weeks after treatment compared to control groups. This is a standard test for cognitive flexibility — adapting previously learned rules to new situations.
