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Central Actions of Psychotomimetics

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Abstract

ALTHOUGH the alterations in human behaviour and mental activity produced by psychotomimetic substances are not necessarily closely related to those observed in the psychoses1, the central modes of action of these substances are nevertheless of considerable interest. It is possible that drugs chemically related, to tryptamine, lysergic acid and the catecholamines block synaptic excitation in certain regions of the central nervous system, such as has been demonstrated in the lateral geniculate nucleus2. These substances may also mimic central inhibitory transmitters3, since certain derivatives depress the excitability of neurones in the cerebral cortex and thalamus4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Australian National University, Canberra

    D. R. CURTIS & R. W. RYALL

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  1. D. R. CURTIS
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  2. R. W. RYALL
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CURTIS, D., RYALL, R. Central Actions of Psychotomimetics. Nature 199, 1003–1004 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/1991003a0

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