A virtual clinical trial of psychedelics to treat patients with disorders of consciousness
bioRxiv – August 16, 2024
Source: medRxiv/bioRxiv/arXiv
Summary
Disorders of consciousness, like unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, often lack effective treatments. Excitingly, research indicates that psychedelics may offer new hope. By simulating LSD and psilocybin effects on brain models of affected patients, the study found these substances can enhance brain connectivity, particularly benefiting those in a minimally conscious state.
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DoC), including the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and the minimally conscious state (MCS), have limited treatment options. Recent research suggests that psychedelic drugs, known for their complexity-enhancing properties, could be promising treatments for DoC. This study uses whole-brain computational models to explore this potential. We created individualised models for DoC patients, optimised with empirical fMRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data, and simulated the administration of LSD and psilocybin. We used an in-silico perturbation protocol to distinguish between different states of consciousness, including DoC, anaesthesia, and the psychedelic state, and assess the dynamical stability of the brains of DoC patients pre- and post-psychedelic simulation. Our findings indicate that LSD and psilocybin shift DoC patients’ brains closer to criticality, with a greater effect in MCS patients. In UWS patients, the treatment response correlates with structural connectivity, while in MCS patients, it aligns with baseline functional connectivity. This virtual clinical trial lays a computational foundation for using psychedelics in DoC treatment and highlights the future role of computational modelling in drug discovery and personalised medicine.