Effect and Potency of Psychedelics at the Psychopharmacological, Psychological, and Neurobiological Levels
A Scoping Review

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.13339
APL 42(2)

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Published: Feb 7, 2025
Issue: Vol. 42 No. 2 (2024): Avances en Psicología Latinoamericana 42(2)
Section Artículos


Keywords: Serotonin receptors Psychedelics Affinity Steric effect

Main Article Content

Authors

  Guillermo Castaño
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES
  Sebastián Iguarán
Pregrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad CES
  Leandro Murillo
Facultad de Psicología, Universidad CES
  Daniel Espinosa Duque
Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Abstract

Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that alter perception, mood, and cognition. Since the 1950s, their molecular relationship with the serotonergic system has been studied and evidenced through neuroimaging. The objective of this review is to assess the effects and potency of psychedelics in different dimensions (molecular, subjective, physical, and neurobiological). A systematic review of articles (PRISMA-ScR) published between 1960 and 2022 was conducted, searching PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, and EMBASE in English and Spanish. The results highlight the interdisciplinary research challenges in understanding the molecular (psychopharmacology), structural (neurobiology), and subjective (psychological) aspects of these substances. Rather than providing specific answers, this review offers a panoramic view of the studied phenomenon, including historical findings, new knowledge facilitated by current technology, synthetic comparison of subjective effects, a brief description of current neurobiological hypotheses, and identifies knowledge gaps in the field.

How to Cite
Castaño, G., Iguarán, S., Murillo , L., & Espinosa Duque, D. (2025). Effect and Potency of Psychedelics at the Psychopharmacological, Psychological, and Neurobiological Levels: A Scoping Review. Avances En Psicología Latinoamericana, 42(2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.13339
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