CeA Psilocin fiber photometry study: Data and custom code from experiments looking at changes in calcium dynamics in response to an air puff events

Psilocybin, and its active metabolite psilocin, have been shown to elicit
rapid and long-lasting symptom improvements in a variety of affective
psychiatric illnesses. However, the specific mechanisms behind these
therapeutic effects remain relatively unknown. The central amygdala (CeA)
is a primary output region within the extended amygdala that is heavily
dysregulated in affective psychiatric disorders. Here, we utilized fiber
photometry to measure changes in CeA reactivity to an aversive air puff
stimulus after psilocin administration, both acutely and at varying
prolonged time points. We found that administration of psilocin increased
reactivity acutely in females, but not males. Additionally, we show that
one dose of psilocin produced decreases in reactivity in males, but not
females, 28-days post administration, with decreases seen as early as
2-days post administration. We further report stimulus-specific changes in
CeA reactivity after psilocin with differential responsivity to an
aversive air puff stimulus and an auditory stimulus. We also measured
changes in behavioral response to the air puff stimulus and report sex
differences in exploratory behavior but not threat responding or general
locomotion. This study provides evidence that a single dose of psilocin
can elicit sex-specific, dynamic, and enduring changes in CeA reactivity
to an aversive stimulus. These data are an important step towards
dissecting circuit-based mechanisms underlying the effects of
psychedelics.