Graduation Year

2008

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Granting Department

Psychology

Major Professor

Cheryl Kirstein, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Michael Brannick, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Cindy Cimino, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Juan Sanchez-Ramos, M.D.

Committee Member

Toru Shimizu, Ph.D.

Keywords

Neurogenesis, Serotonin, Hippocampus, Fear conditioning, Psilocybin

Abstract

Aberrations in brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission have been implicated in psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression and deficits in learning and memory. Many of these disorders are treated with drugs which promote the availability of 5-HT in the synapse. Selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are known to stimulate the production of new neurons in the hippocampus (HPC) by increasing synaptic concentration of serotonin (5-HT). However, it is not clear which of the 5-HT receptors are involved in behavioral improvements and enhanced neurogenesis. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of 5HT2A agonists psilocybin and 251-NBMeO and the 5HT2A/C antagonist ketanserin on neurogenesis and hippocampal-dependent learning. Agonists and an antagonist to the 5-HT2A receptor produced alterations in hippocampal neurogenesis and trace fear conditioning. Future studies should examine the temporal effects of acute and chronic psilocybin administration on hippocampal-dependent learning and neurogenesis.

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