This talk is part of the Michigan Psychedelic Center's 2026 Seminar Series: Psychedelics — From Cells to Society. Learn more about the series at https://michiganpsychedelic.med.umich.edu/education-events/.

ABOUT THE TALK
Serotonergic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin, DMT, LSD), primarily known for their mind-altering properties, have garnered widespread attention for their potential to treat an array of physical and mental health conditions. However, they are also known to increase wakefulness in animal models and produce a neurophysiological profile opposite to that seen during general anesthesia. This is clinically relevant given there is a lack of a pharmacological agent to reverse general anesthesia.

Therefore, we tested whether the serotonergic psychedelic 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) could induce behavioral arousal and restore brain dynamics associated with wakefulness during general anesthesia.

We provide the first evidence that DOI can reverse general anesthesia and restore wake-like brain dynamics during propofol or isoflurane anesthesia, and this reversal is mediated by 5-HT2A receptor activation. Importantly, this effect was not blocked by inactivation of cortical sites known to be rich in 5-HT2A receptors, prompting a re-evaluation of the role of the cortex in states of consciousness.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Emma Huels, PhD, is a postdoctoral research fellow in the University of Michigan Medical School Department of Anesthesiology with affiliations in the Center for Consciousness Science and Michigan Psychedelic Center.