Teen neurostimulation of dopamine circuit reverses genetic deficits in PF cortex

We need to keep in mind that this is both an outsiders view on the research (i.e. we as readers are missing all the context) and that we are talking about a title. If the information that this work was done in an animal model was missing from the abstract, now that would be a problem. The title only serves to gain the attention of the intended audience.

Teen in mice would be quite old

No need to travel all the way to mushrooms. Marijuana is known for increasing ability to concentrate, and it does to a great degree.

It's just that like regular mushroom use, the long term cognitive effects are absolutely counterproductive. Especially for anyone who is neurodivergent and should instead be looking to approach the habits and the state of mind of those who are not and have successful outcomes.

I once tried microdosing LSD for a few weeks.

The effect that I experienced was that it became physically impossible to procrastinate. I'd try avoiding an unpleasant task by e.g. going on the internet, but I would just be consciously aware that I was sitting in a chair, looking at a screen, trying to avoid thinking about the task.

The only way to get things off my mind was to do them.

I found this quite refreshing.

It also worked with physical mess. Normally mess is background to me. Microdosing made mess un-avoidable, like "a splinter in your mind", I had to keep the place clean if I wanted to maintain my sanity. I appreciated that aspect, it made me make my living space beautiful.

It also seemed to benefit anxiety and depression, at least initially--seemed to swing back into mood swings and depression a few weeks later. Though I can't compare with a version of me who wasn't microdosing, so it may have just been the usual seasonal depression, or the result of lifestyle changes (had moved countries) rather than the microdosing.

I'm vaguely open to trying it again, but I'd have to be at a very good and stable place in life, which sort of defeats the purpose.

Re: Anxiety: its effect on social anxiety is best illustrated by an anecdote. I was getting a vehicle from a garage and on the way out, naturally made casual conversation with a guard. Ordinarily, I consider myself introverted, asocial and somewhat on the spectrum. I socialize "manually" which makes it awkward (not knowing what or when to say).

I think it might have been a boost to curiosity/openness. Normally I wouldn't even notice the guard, or I'd just smile and hope he doesn't start a chat because I wouldn't know what to say, whereas microdosing I was much friendlier and more curious about other people and their experience.

In many ways I "liked myself better" during this time, and wished I could be that way all the time. But it became too unpleasant to continue.

I began to notice patterns in the world you aren't supposed to notice (it would be unwise to elaborate further) and it ended up costing me a few relationships. (Arguably I am just an asshole and it brought that out, but it's certainly a strange contrast to the increased friendliness in the first few weeks.)

Overall, it may have been a net positive, but it's very unclear, and I wouldn't recommend that anyone treat it lightly! Caveat emptor! Those who need it the most are also the most likely to suffer serious complications.

adolescent mice to be precise. the original article title (unlike what HN has) is:

"Adolescent neurostimulation of dopamine circuit reverses genetic deficits in frontal cortex function"