Dr. Kay Tye: The Biology of Social Interactions and Emotions

Therapeutic Potential

Andrew Huberman and Kay Tye explore the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, emphasizing their ability to enhance neuroplasticity and empathy. Andrew shares his participation in clinical trials for psilocybin and MDMA, highlighting their promise for treating depression and trauma 1. Kay discusses her research on psilocybin's effects on animal behavior, particularly in conflict tasks, and the importance of set and setting in psychedelic therapies 2.

The range and specificity of questions that you're asking about psychedelics I find so exciting.

--- Andrew Huberman

They also touch on the potential for biomarkers to predict individual suitability for these therapies, aiming to make treatments more effective and personalized.

   

Mechanisms of Action

Kay delves into the mechanisms of action of psychedelics, focusing on how they alter brain circuits to produce therapeutic effects. She explains that psychedelics may change the signal-to-noise ratio in neurons, leading to hallucinations and more flexible thought patterns 3. Her research uses computer vision to analyze animal behavior and identify hidden states, which could be altered by psychedelics to change the number of brain states or transitions between them 4.

We are trying to just create actual ways to test them.

--- Kay Tye

This approach aims to quantify the psychedelic experience and understand its impact on mental health at a cellular level.