Science Café – Psychedelics and Neuroscience: Research in the Age of AI

• In-Person event
• 1049 Bank St , Ottawa , ON , K1S 3W9

• Contact
• Jessie Cartwright, jessie.cartwright@carleton.ca

Psychedelic drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have re-entered the scientific
spotlight, with growing evidence for their therapeutic potential in neuropsychiatric conditions. A
challenge remains: dissociating the drug’s hallucinogenic effects from its therapeutic effects,
with major implications for future treatment. Artificial intelligence faces a similar reckoning: as it
enters scientific research, distinguishing genuine utility from the promise of efficiency is critical
to preserving scientific integrity. This talk explores 2-Bromo-LSD, a non-hallucinogenic LSD
analog, as a tool for isolating the neurobiological mechanisms of psychedelic-assisted therapy
without inducing a psychedelic experience. I will present findings from two studies: a
transmission electron microscopy investigation of myelin ultrastructure, and a single-nucleus
RNA sequencing analysis of prefrontal cortex transcriptional changes, noting where AI tools
could be used to improve efficiency and discovery. Together, these findings show how
psychedelics act on brain circuitry at the structural and molecular level, and how diligent, ethical
co-evolution of science and AI could drive the next leap forward.

About the Speaker:

Daniel Kot, PhD Student, Carleton University in The Department of Neuroscience

Daniel Kot is a third-year PhD student in the Argel Aguilar-Valles Lab in the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University. His research focuses on how psychedelic drugs and non-hallucinogenic analogs affect the brain, with a particular interest in their influence on brain plasticity and glial cells. He is especially interested in understanding whether the beneficial effects of psychedelics can be separated from their hallucinogenic effects.

His work combines behavioural experiments with molecular and cellular approaches to better understand how these drugs alter the brain. Outside of the lab, Daniel enjoys staying active and spending time in nature, whether cycling, hiking, or setting up his hammock in Gatineau Park.

www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-kot-61116a246

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