Scientists Found a Way to Control How High Mice Got on Cocaine

A group of scientists at the University of Wisconsin claim to have found a way to stop mice from getting high on cocaine.

The goal of the research is well- meaning, even if it sounds like a fake plot by a group of evil scientists.

The team, led by University of Wisconsin neuroscientist Santiago Cuesta, was researching how the gut microbiome can influence how mice and humans react to a drug.

The research, which was published this week in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, sheds light on a vicious feedback loop that could explain cases of substance abuse disorders.

In a number of experiments on mice, the researchers found that cocaine was linked to the growth of common gutbacteria, which feed on a chemical that facilitates basic brain functions.

The lower the levels of glycine in the brain, the more cocaine reacts to it.

The scientists tested the theory by injecting the mice with a genetically modified amino acid. The behavior of mice was back to normal.

At least in animal models, the amino acid could be used to curb cocaine addiction.

The senior author and microbiologist from the University of Wisconsin said that the gutbacteria are consuming all of the glycine and levels are decreasing in the brain. The change in glycine is making the animals more prone to develop addiction.

If it works in people, it could be interesting.

"For neuroscience behaviors, people are not thinking about controlling the microbiota, and microbiota studies don't measure behaviors, but here we show they're connected." It's possible that our microbiome can affect brain- related behaviors.

Their research could lead to new ways of treating psychiatric disorders such as substance use by adjusting the gut microbiome and not changing the brain chemistry.

"I think the bridge of these communities is what's going to move the field forward, and advance beyond correlations towards causations for the different types of psychiatric disorders," he said.

The effects of cocaine are influenced by gutbacteria.

A study found that magic mushrooms helped people cut down on drinking.