Advisor(s)
Phillip Zoladz
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
24-4-2026 10:00 AM
End Date
24-4-2026 10:50 AM
Abstract
Single treatments with psychedelics produce rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. Psychedelics may also exert anxiolytic effects and be useful in treating more complex psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD. However, less is known about the impact of these agents on PTSD-related symptoms. Thus, we aimed to determine whether a single administration of psilocybin could reverse PTSD-like sequelae induced by stress-enhanced fear learning in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in Context A (circular, white conditioning box) and exposed to several uncontrollable footshocks (Stress) or no footshocks (No Stress). The next day, the rats were placed in Context B (square conditioning box with clear Plexiglas sides); all rats underwent contextual fear conditioning and were given a single mild electric footshock. Four weeks later, rats were injected with 1 mg/kg psilocybin (PSIL) or vehicle. The next day, rats began a battery of behavioral tests that assessed their freezing behavior in Context B, anxiety-like behavior on the elevated plus maze (EPM), locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT), and neophobic behaviors in a novel object recognition assessment. Upon re-exposure to Context B, stressed rats exhibited greater freezing than non-stressed rats, verifying the classic stress-enhanced fear learning phenomenon. Relative to controls, stressed rats also exhibited fewer overall arm entries on the EPM and traveled less distance in the OFT. All effects were independent of sex, and none were reversed by PSIL. These findings indicate that a single administration of PSIL is largely ineffective at reversing PTSD-related sequelae that result from stress-enhanced fear learning.
Recommended Citation
King, Kylie M.; Savini, Marisa J.; Molnar, Noelle M.; Schneider, Evelynn J.; Straub, Savannah E.; Parker, Joe; Puppel, Lillianna P.; Al-Olimat, Aleece K.; Bach, Allison M.; and Zoladz, Phillip R., "A single administration of psilocybin is ineffective in reversing PTSD-like sequelae in a rat model of stress-enhanced fear learning" (2026). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 12.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2026/Posters/12
Open Access
Available to all.
Included in
Behavioral Neurobiology Commons, Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Biological Psychology Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons
A single administration of psilocybin is ineffective in reversing PTSD-like sequelae in a rat model of stress-enhanced fear learning
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Single treatments with psychedelics produce rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. Psychedelics may also exert anxiolytic effects and be useful in treating more complex psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD. However, less is known about the impact of these agents on PTSD-related symptoms. Thus, we aimed to determine whether a single administration of psilocybin could reverse PTSD-like sequelae induced by stress-enhanced fear learning in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in Context A (circular, white conditioning box) and exposed to several uncontrollable footshocks (Stress) or no footshocks (No Stress). The next day, the rats were placed in Context B (square conditioning box with clear Plexiglas sides); all rats underwent contextual fear conditioning and were given a single mild electric footshock. Four weeks later, rats were injected with 1 mg/kg psilocybin (PSIL) or vehicle. The next day, rats began a battery of behavioral tests that assessed their freezing behavior in Context B, anxiety-like behavior on the elevated plus maze (EPM), locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT), and neophobic behaviors in a novel object recognition assessment. Upon re-exposure to Context B, stressed rats exhibited greater freezing than non-stressed rats, verifying the classic stress-enhanced fear learning phenomenon. Relative to controls, stressed rats also exhibited fewer overall arm entries on the EPM and traveled less distance in the OFT. All effects were independent of sex, and none were reversed by PSIL. These findings indicate that a single administration of PSIL is largely ineffective at reversing PTSD-related sequelae that result from stress-enhanced fear learning.