Please join us for a colloquium in Moore B03 on Thursday, April 16, 2026, beginning at 1:10 p.m. The talk will be given by Melissa Herman, Assistant Professor, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies and Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Title:  Sex, Circuit, and Population Specific Effects of Psychedelics on Neuronal Activity and Behavior

Abstract:  The psychedelic psilocybin has shown therapeutic potential, yet the neural mechanisms underlying clinical effects remain poorly understood. We have previously identified sex-specific effects of psilocin—the active metabolite of psilocybin—on Central Amygdala (CeA) and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) reactivity and behavioral responding to an aversive air puff stimulus. We have expanded on this work to investigate the impact of psilocin on basal activity and reactivity within the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) and PVT projections to CeA in rats. Psilocin administration increased PVT c-Fos expression and selectively engaged PVT→CeA neurons in females, but not males. Psilocin enhanced PVT reactivity to an aversive air-puff stimulus, with effects primarily driven by passive responders. In PVT→CeA neurons, psilocin prevented time-dependent reductions in stimulus-evoked activity and maintained reactivity across timepoints in females but not males. The sustained engagement of PVT→CeA circuitry was driven by active responders. These findings identify sex-specific modulation of thalamic-limbic circuitry and behavior by psilocin, implicating PVT→CeA circuitry in the neural and behavioral effects of psychedelic compounds and advancing our understanding of how psychedelics modulate emotional brain circuits.

Coffee, tea, and cider donuts will be available a few minutes before and after the talk in the foyer outside of Moore B03.

Note: All talks will now take place Thursdays, beginning at 1:10 p.m., in Moore B03 (unless otherwise noted).