5-MeO-DMT Triggers Paradoxical Wake: Sleep-Like Brain Activity in Awake Mice

A study in Communications Biology finds that the psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT can induce a hybrid brain state in awake mice, showing slow‑wave sleep activity and OFF periods despite active movement and dilated pupils. This paradoxical wake involves widespread brain networks and a suppression of theta rhythms, with effects modulated by serotonin receptors, suggesting multiple neural pathways. The researchers also report altered motivation, reduced reward seeking after dosing, and a delayed REM rebound, implying potential links between psychedelic effects, sleep regulation, and brain plasticity with therapeutic implications.