The article explains how the left and right sides of the brain process language differently, with the left hemisphere specializing in speech and the right in melodies, and how these processes develop during critical periods in early life. Research on mice shows that these developmental windows vary by sex and hemisphere, influencing how sound is processed and potentially contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Understanding these mechanisms offers insights into language development and potential early interventions.
Psychedelic drugs have the unique ability to reopen "critical periods" in the brain, times when the brain is highly susceptible to environmental learning signals, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine. The length of these reopened critical periods varies depending on the psychedelic drug used, ranging from 48 hours with ketamine to four weeks with ibogaine. The study also identified molecular mechanisms influenced by psychedelics, including 65 protein-producing genes that show expression differences during and after the critical period. This breakthrough in understanding psychedelic drug function may have therapeutic implications for conditions like stroke and deafness.
A recent study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that psychedelic drugs may be capable of reopening “critical periods” in the brain, when mammals are more receptive to learning from their environment. The effect varies in duration, from two days to four weeks, depending on the drug. This discovery offers potential applications in treating conditions like stroke and deafness, as well as providing insight into the functioning of these drugs and their impact on molecular mechanisms.
