‘LSD can rebuild brain connections’

MIND-BENDING psychedelic drugs such as LSD can re-wire the brain and mend broken connections between neurons, new research suggests.

The discovery could lead to new treatments for anxiety, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder, scientists believe.

In tests on flies and rats, the US team found that a wide range of psychedelic drugs promote “neural plasticity” and alter brain structure.

Exposure to the hallucinogenic drugs led to the growth of dendrites, dendritic spines and synapses, all of which help neurons communicate with one another.

Synapses are the all-important connection points that allow chemical signals to flow between neurons.