Microdoses of psilocybin and ketamine enhance motivation and attention in rodent models relevant to depression

Low doses of psilocybin and ketamine can heighten food-related motivation and improve attention in poorly-performing male rats, according to new research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology. The new findings shed light on some of the potential benefits of microdosing, which refers to the consumption of very small and routine doses of a psychedelic drug.

“Based on my Pharma R&D experience, I’ve been interested in the pharmacological effects of low (micro) doses of NMDA antagonists in preclinical species for many years. More recently, this research led to our investigations with ketamine and psilocybin at InterVivo Solutions,” explained study author Guy Higgins, the company’s chief scientific officer and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto.

“While there is anecdotal evidence for beneficial effects such as improved motivation and cognitive function of these drugs at low (micro) doses in humans, it is only now that they are beginning to be investigated in appropriately controlled trials. There is also very little preclinical research into low (micro) dose psychedelics. An objective of this work was to define these effects in rodents using behavioral tests that translate to those that can be adopted in humans.”
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