Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks
Abstract Despite the longstanding use of nitrous oxide and descriptions of its psychological effects more than a century ago, there is a paucity of neurobiological investigation of associated psychedelic experiences. We measure the brain’s functional geometry (through analysis of cortical gradients)...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05678-1 |
| _version_ | 1797376850524110848 |
|---|---|
| author | Rui Dai Zirui Huang Tony E. Larkin Vijay Tarnal Paul Picton Phillip E. Vlisides Ellen Janke Amy McKinney Anthony G. Hudetz Richard E. Harris George A. Mashour |
| author_facet | Rui Dai Zirui Huang Tony E. Larkin Vijay Tarnal Paul Picton Phillip E. Vlisides Ellen Janke Amy McKinney Anthony G. Hudetz Richard E. Harris George A. Mashour |
| author_sort | Rui Dai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Despite the longstanding use of nitrous oxide and descriptions of its psychological effects more than a century ago, there is a paucity of neurobiological investigation of associated psychedelic experiences. We measure the brain’s functional geometry (through analysis of cortical gradients) and temporal dynamics (through analysis of co-activation patterns) using human resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired before and during administration of 35% nitrous oxide. Both analyses demonstrate that nitrous oxide reduces functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor networks. Importantly, the subjective psychedelic experience induced by nitrous oxide is inversely correlated with the degree of functional differentiation. Thus, like classical psychedelics acting on serotonin receptors, nitrous oxide flattens the functional geometry of the cortex and disrupts temporal dynamics in association with psychoactive effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:44:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d4fe9f8199044c68d1b5c7ac966fddc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:44:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d4fe9f8199044c68d1b5c7ac966fddc2023-12-24T12:26:28ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422023-12-016111010.1038/s42003-023-05678-1Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networksRui Dai0Zirui Huang1Tony E. Larkin2Vijay Tarnal3Paul Picton4Phillip E. Vlisides5Ellen Janke6Amy McKinney7Anthony G. Hudetz8Richard E. Harris9George A. Mashour10Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAbstract Despite the longstanding use of nitrous oxide and descriptions of its psychological effects more than a century ago, there is a paucity of neurobiological investigation of associated psychedelic experiences. We measure the brain’s functional geometry (through analysis of cortical gradients) and temporal dynamics (through analysis of co-activation patterns) using human resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired before and during administration of 35% nitrous oxide. Both analyses demonstrate that nitrous oxide reduces functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor networks. Importantly, the subjective psychedelic experience induced by nitrous oxide is inversely correlated with the degree of functional differentiation. Thus, like classical psychedelics acting on serotonin receptors, nitrous oxide flattens the functional geometry of the cortex and disrupts temporal dynamics in association with psychoactive effects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05678-1 |
| spellingShingle | Rui Dai Zirui Huang Tony E. Larkin Vijay Tarnal Paul Picton Phillip E. Vlisides Ellen Janke Amy McKinney Anthony G. Hudetz Richard E. Harris George A. Mashour Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks Communications Biology |
| title | Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks |
| title_full | Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks |
| title_fullStr | Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks |
| title_short | Psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks |
| title_sort | psychedelic concentrations of nitrous oxide reduce functional differentiation in frontoparietal and somatomotor cortical networks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05678-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ruidai psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT ziruihuang psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT tonyelarkin psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT vijaytarnal psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT paulpicton psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT phillipevlisides psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT ellenjanke psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT amymckinney psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT anthonyghudetz psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT richardeharris psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks AT georgeamashour psychedelicconcentrationsofnitrousoxidereducefunctionaldifferentiationinfrontoparietalandsomatomotorcorticalnetworks |