Tag

Receptors

All articles tagged with #receptors

science5 months ago

Beyond Serotonin: The Comprehensive Brain Engagement of Psychedelics

A new study reveals that psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline interact with a wide range of neural receptors beyond just serotonin, engaging multiple pathways that may explain their complex effects and therapeutic potential. These compounds activate numerous serotonin, dopamine, and adrenergic receptors, stimulating diverse intracellular signaling pathways, which could allow for the development of targeted, non-hallucinogenic therapies for mental health conditions. The findings highlight the intricate pharmacology of psychedelics and their potential for precision medicine in neuropsychiatry.

biology2 years ago

Octopuses use their arms to taste and hunt

Octopuses and squids use their suckers to taste surfaces and grapple with their prey simultaneously. Two studies published in Nature describe how these animals 'taste by touching' and how evolution has equipped them with the perfect sensory ability for their lifestyles. The receptors that stud the animals' suckers transmit information that enables the creature to taste chemicals on a surface independently from those floating in the water. Molecular biologists have found that the octopus receptors tend to bind to 'greasy' molecules that don't dissolve in water, suggesting that they are optimized for detecting chemicals on surfaces such as a fish's skin, the sea floor, or the octopus's own eggs.