Using Psilocybin to Investigate the Relationship between Attention, Working Memory, and the Serotonin 1A and 2A Receptors. Carter, O., L., Burr, D., C., Pettigrew, J., D., Wallis, G., M., Hasler, F., & Vollenweider, F., X.
Using Psilocybin to Investigate the Relationship between Attention, Working Memory, and the Serotonin 1A and 2A Receptors [pdf]Paper  Using Psilocybin to Investigate the Relationship between Attention, Working Memory, and the Serotonin 1A and 2A Receptors [link]Website  abstract   bibtex   
& Increasing evidence suggests a link between attention, working memory, serotonin (5-HT), and prefrontal cortex ac-tivity. In an attempt to tease out the relationship between these elements, this study tested the effects of the hallucinogenic mixed 5-HT 1A/2A receptor agonist psilocybin alone and after pretreatment with the 5-HT 2A antagonist ketanserin. Eight healthy human volunteers were tested on a multiple-object tracking task and spatial working memory task under the four conditions: placebo, psilocybin (215 Ag/kg), ketanserin (50 mg), and psilocybin and ketanserin. Psilocybin significantly reduced attentional tracking ability, but had no significant effect on spatial working memory, suggesting a functional dis-sociation between the two tasks. Pretreatment with ketanserin did not attenuate the effect of psilocybin on attentional per-formance, suggesting a primary involvement of the 5-HT 1A receptor in the observed deficit. Based on physiological and pharmacological data, we speculate that this impaired atten-tional performance may reflect a reduced ability to suppress or ignore distracting stimuli rather than reduced attentional capac-ity. The clinical relevance of these results is also discussed. &

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