Fig. 5: Global control energy time-series for the DMT condition is simulated using only placebo fMRI data, coupled with simulated DMT plasma concentrations and 2a receptor density information. | Communications Biology

Fig. 5: Global control energy time-series for the DMT condition is simulated using only placebo fMRI data, coupled with simulated DMT plasma concentrations and 2a receptor density information.

From: Network control energy reductions under DMT relate to serotonin receptors, signal diversity, and subjective experience

Fig. 5

Pharmacokinetic modeling yields an estimate of DMT concentration over the length of the 28 min scans. Here, we specifically used predicted ‘brain-effect compartment’ concentrations from a previously validated model using plasma concentration sampling and EEG60. Multiplying DMT concentration over time by regional PET-derived serotonin 2a densities39 yields an estimate for DMT’s impact on each brain region over time, which can be used as a time-varying control strategy. In order to simulate the impact of DMT on the global control energy time-series, we use each participant’s placebo fMRI data and apply the time-varying control strategy via inclusion in the diagonal of matrix B. Prior to DMT injection, the control strategy (diagonal in B) is uniform, as is the case for all previously calculated energy metrics. Solid lines are group means, and corresponding shaded boundaries reflect the standard error of the mean (SEM). CE = control energy; a.u. = arbitrary units.

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