Depressive DisordersAnxiety DisordersEating DisordersInterpersonal Functioning & Social ConnectednessPsilocybinLSD

Serotonergic hallucinogens and recognition of facial emotion expressions: a systematic review of the literature.

This review (s=8) found that psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin) can aid in the recognition of emotions in facial expressions (REFE), which is thought to be a key aspect of social cognition. Psychedelics do this by modulating the activity of the amygdala.

Authors

  • Jamie Hallak
  • Rafael dos Santos
  • Jaime Crippa

Published

Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
meta Study

Abstract

Background

Recognition of emotions in facial expressions (REFE) is a key aspect of social cognition. Anxiety and mood disorders are associated with deficits in REFE, and anxiolytics and antidepressants reverse these deficits. Recent studies have shown that serotonergic hallucinogens (i.e. ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], and mescaline) have anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, but their effects on REFE are not well understood. The purpose of the study was to conduct a systematic review analyzing the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens on REFE in humans.

Methods

Studies published in the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases until 19 October 2018 which analyzed the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens on REFE in humans were included.

Results

Of the 62 studies identified, 8 studies were included. Included studies involved the administration of a single or a few doses of LSD or psilocybin, and most trials were randomized and controlled with placebo. LSD and psilocybin reduced the recognition of negative emotions in most studies and modulated amygdala activity to these stimuli, which was correlated with antidepressive effects in patients. Both drugs were well tolerated.

Conclusions

Serotonergic hallucinogens reduced the recognition of negative emotions by modulating amygdala activity. Despite the small sample sizes, results suggest that serotonergic hallucinogens show promising beneficial effects on deficits in REFE.

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Research Summary of 'Serotonergic hallucinogens and recognition of facial emotion expressions: a systematic review of the literature.'

Introduction

Recognition of emotions in facial expressions (REFE) is a core component of social cognition and is impaired in several psychiatric conditions, notably anxiety and mood disorders. Earlier research has shown that deficits in REFE are linked to clinical features—social anxiety disorder involves hypervigilance to threatening expressions, for example—and that some anxiolytic and antidepressant treatments produce changes in emotional processing that may precede clinical improvement. MDMA has been robustly shown to reduce identification of negative emotions and to modulate amygdala and prefrontal activity, and recent preclinical and clinical work has suggested that classical serotonergic hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca/DMT, mescaline) have anxiolytic and antidepressant properties mediated via 5-HT2A receptor agonism in brain regions implicated in emotion processing. Rocha and colleagues set out to systematically review human experimental studies that directly examined the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens on REFE. The stated goal was to determine whether these compounds alter recognition of facial emotions and to summarise neurophysiological and clinical correlates, with attention to potential relevance for treating disorders characterised by REFE deficits such as depression and anxiety.

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Study Details

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