Week 4 | Critical Periods in Veterinary Medicine
Beyond the Basics | Potential for Therapeutic Applications
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Critical Periods in Psychedelics & Veterinary Medicine
Week 4 | August 9th 2024
Beyond the Basics - Critical Periods in Veterinary Medicine
In Week 4, we dive beyond the basics of psychedelic substance terminology and basic introduction concepts into a more indepth topics focusing on the concept of critical periods in veterinary medicine.
Much of our discussion will center around The Dolen’s Labs seminal work on Social Critical Period re-opening with psychedelics, and how these findings may affect a clinical approach to accidental ingestion in pets.
We discuss critical periods across various species, such as the socialization period in dogs, imprinting in geese as studied by Conrad Lorenz, visual development in cats, and weaning in horses. Also, we examined the mechanisms that regulates the opening and closing of these periods, including metaplasticity, the inhibitory-excitatory balance, and extracellular matrix solidification.
This discussion includes thought into the sensitive developmental windows during which exposure to psychedelics can have significant impacts on animals and how certain interventions can potentially reopen these critical periods, offering new avenues for therapeutic applications. We explores how timing, dosage, and the specific type of psychedelic could influence developmental outcomes and long-term health effects and highlighting their importance in shaping behavior and physiological development.
Lastly, we also discuss the implications for veterinary practice, including considerations for treatment and harm reduction strategies during these critical periods. Join us as we navigate this complex and what we expected to be a crucial aspect of psychedelic veterinary medicine.
Week 4’s Resources:
Watch Week4 Recorded Lecture here.
$25 registration
20min lecture
valid for 0.5 hr CE for VCCounselor renewal requirements
