Language models map psychedelic drugs' 19 neurotransmitter receptors to subjective experience semantics
danilobzdok · x · 2026-10-05
Danilo Bzdok's team published a proof-of-concept study in Psychopharmacology using a custom GloVe-based semantic embedding model trained on 4,496 firsthand psychedelic experience reports, integrated with receptor binding affinity data for 21 drugs across 19 neurotransmitter receptors, to identify receptor-linked semantic patterns without imposing predefined categories.
Key findings:
- 5-HT2A predictably associates with classic facets of psychedelic experience
- Novel associations: 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B with "Cognitive Disruption", H1 with "Interdimensional Communication", 5-HT7a and 5-HT1E with "Visual Complexity"
The authors argue a single receptor system cannot explain the rich diversity of subjective awareness changes under psychedelics, challenging the field's narrow focus on 5-HT2A. Co-authors include Robin Carhart-Harris and Frederick Barrett.
More from Research
- JCIM invites compchem and AI4Science database and software Application Notes submissions — olexandr · 2026-10-05
- Michael Levin's new chapter argues morphogenesis is fundamentally cognitive, not mechanical — JosephJacks_ · 2026-10-05
- New electrostatic artificial muscle actuators show promise but limited by breakdown and cycle life — IanPritchard · 2026-10-05
- AI-Designed Drug Rentosertib Shows 3-4 Years of Biological Age Reversal in Phase IIa Trial — Dr_Singularity · 2026-10-05
- NeurIPS 2026 accepts Princeton collab paper on learning linear dynamical systems with small memory — HazanPrinceton · 2026-10-05
- NIRVANA Cognitive Cartridges: Frozen 7B Models Get Removable Numerical Memory on Qwen and Mistral — Nearby_Indication474 · 2026-10-05