This is the second publication of a four-part study. It was found that a microdose (20µg) of LSD increased neuroplasticity as measured by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels at 6 hours (n=24). The results are, however, ambiguous and not present at all values/times.
Abstract of Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers
“Despite preclinical evidence for psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity, confirmation in humans is grossly lacking. Given the increased interest in using low doses of psychedelics for psychiatric indications and the importance of neuroplasticity in the therapeutic response, this placebo-controlled within-subject study investigated the effect of single low doses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) on circulating BDNF levels in healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected every 2 h over 6 h, and BDNF levels were determined afterwards in blood plasma using ELISA. The findings demonstrated an increase in BDNF blood plasma levels at 4 h (5 μg) and 6 h (5 and 20 μg) compared to that for the placebo. The finding that LSD acutely increases BDNF levels warrants studies in patient populations.”
Authors: Nadia R. P. W. Hutten, Natasha L. Mason, Patrick C. Dolder, Eef L. Theunissen, Friederike Holze, Matthias E. Liechti, Nimmy Varghese, Anne Eckert, Amanda Feilding, Johannes G. Ramaekers & Kim P. C. Kuypers
Notes on Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers
This study used the same participants as Ramaekers et al. (2020), Holze et al. (2020), and Hutten et al. (2020).
The study is supported in part by the Beckley Foundation.
Do also see these notes/critiques on Twitter by Matthew Baggott.
Summary of Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers
This study investigated the effect of single low LSD doses (5, 10, and 20 mcg) on circulating BDNF levels in healthy volunteers. The results demonstrated an increase in BDNF levels at 4 hours and 6 hours compared to the placebo.
Psychedelic substances, such as LSD, DOI, DMT, and psilocybin, and alkaloids present in ayahuasca, affect neuroplasticity after acute, and chronic administration. In particular, chronic administration of twice the ritualistic dose of ayahuasca in rats increased BDNF levels. In vitro studies with DOI, LSD, and DMT showed increased forming of new neurites, increased length of dendritic branches, and formation of synapses, while 5-MeO-DMT showed the most potent effects. Preclinical work with DMT has also shown neuroplastic changes even after administration of low DMT doses.
User claims suggest that self-medication with low doses of psychedelics may be effective in the treatment of disorders related to neuroplasticity, including depression. The present study aimed to investigate whether LSD base in low doses affects BDNF plasma levels in healthy volunteers.
Find this paper
Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00099
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Cite this paper (APA)
Hutten, N. R. P. W., Mason, N. L., Dolder, P. C., Theunissen, E. L., Holze, F., Liechti, M. E., Varghese, N., Eckert, A., Feilding, A., Ramaekers, J. G., & Kuypers, K. P. C. (2021). *ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 4*(2), 461-466. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00099
Study details
Compounds studied
LSD
Topics studied
Microdosing
Neuroscience
Study characteristics
Original Re-analysis
Placebo-Controlled
Double-Blind
Within-Subject
Randomized
Participants
24
Humans
Authors
Authors associated with this publication with profiles on Blossom
Natasha MasonNatasha Mason is interested in elucidating the neurobiological and cognitive mechanisms of (psychedelic) drugs by utilizing multimodal study designs, with a particular focus on substances that may hold therapeutic value.
Matthias Liechti
Matthias Emanuel Liechti is the research group leader at the Liechti Lab at the University of Basel.
Amanda Feilding
Amanda is the Founder and Director of the Beckley Foundation. She's called the 'hidden hand' behind the renaissance of psychedelic science, and her contribution to global drug policy reform has also been pivotal and widely acknowledged.
Johannes Ramaekers
Johannes Ramaekers is a professor at Maastricht University his work focuses on behavioral toxicology of drugs and combines methods from psychopharmacology, forensic toxicology and neuroscience to determine drug-induced changes in human performance. Some of this research is done with DMT.
Kim Kuypers
Kim Kuypers is a researcher at Maastricht University. Her work is concerned with understanding the neurobiology underlying flexible cognition, empathy, and well-being. One of the main ways she does is with the use of psychedelics.
Institutes
Institutes associated with this publication
Beckley FoundationThe Beckley Foundation is one of the leading voices that has spurred the scientific renaissance of psychedelics research. Led by Amanda Fielding, the NGO funds research and engages with politicians.
Maastricht University
Maastricht University is host to the psychopharmacology department (Psychopharmacology in Maastricht) where various researchers are investigating the effects of psychedelics.
University of Basel
The University of Basel Department of Biomedicine hosts the Liechti Lab research group, headed by Matthias Liechti.
Compound Details
The psychedelics given at which dose and how many times
LSD 5 - 20μg | 1x
Linked Research Papers
Notable research papers that build on or are influenced by this paper
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Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of lysergic acid diethylamide microdoses in healthy participants
This is the third publication of a four-part study. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=23) found that 10 µg of LSD (vs 5µg) produced psychedelic (psychotropic) effects (even more so at 20µg). The peak effects were at 2.5 hours and ended at 5 hours.
Mood and cognition after administration of low LSD doses in healthy volunteers: A placebo controlled dose-effect finding study
This is the fourth publication on the administration of a microdose of LSD (5, 10, or 20µg). The double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=24) found enhanced attention, slower information processing, more positive mood, and increased anxiety and confusion. Again, the results are small and ambiguous.