DMT, active component in ayahuasca, aids in the growth of new neurons

In addition to being found naturally in animal tissues, including the human brain, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is the primary hallucinogenic compound found in the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca. Used for both ritual and medicinal purposes in traditional South American cultures, it has garnered much attention lately for its therapeutic roles vis-à-vis depression and anxiety.

Despite being naturally-occurring and benefiting from a centuries’ long tradition in diverse cultures, its effects on the brain are still poorly understood. Recently, however, it has been shown to play an important role in both in vitro and in vivo neurogenesis mouse populations, with some interesting associated behavioral outcomes. The study, out of Madrid, was published in Translational Psychiatry.

Neurogenesis refers to the process of creating new neurons in the brain, which occurs primarily in the subventricular zone (the area separating brain tissue from the cerebrospinal fluid-filled lateral ventricles) and the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is highly complex and not well understood, which makes the findings of the present study all the more interesting.
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