6 ms·

I'm trying to differentiate between "this is how the mechanism works" and "this mechanism creates effect in humans" - the latter you implied by saying the walk

I'm trying to differentiate between "this is how the mechanism works" and "this mechanism creates effect in humans" - the latter you implied by saying the walk in the park is likely related. I do not have even a basic understanding of the science in the paper so I may be missing the point. So I guess what I'm asking is: is there evidence that the mechanism described in the paper results in "mental clarity", and further is there evidence that a walk in the park actually encourages this interaction (it sounds like it will as long as you get some sunlight).

AnthonBerg 5y ago
Ah! Yes! Thank you! Blind spot. I’ll find papers even though it might be a little late given the thread’s momentum. I wish I’d drawn up the connection first time around! Off the cuff, I’ve seen results that inflammatory downregulation is associated with alleviation of depression – with both SSRI use… and psychedelic mushrooms! (which directly activate the same 5-HT2A receptor). A sense of a clear head is a common description in both instances. Both types of drug are known to alleviate depression, and are known to reduce inflammatory markers – the same as cis-urocanic acid is known to do. Lower those same markers, that is. The “pretty likely” part is my sense that there’s something there that’s causative for the feeling of clarity – yes. (Part of it. Maybe!) There are also papers on cis-urocanic acid and… glutathione metabolism? or was it glutamine? in the brain. I’ll dig up something concrete. (I was very, very surprised to learn about these mechanisms. I’m not at all speaking as someone who’s into psychedelics. Just someone who marvels at what seems to be the molecular biology.)