PCP and the Brain: Understanding the Effects of Phencyclidine

Phencyclidine, also known as PCP, exerts its primary psychoactive effects by antagonizing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the central nervous system, particularly in the cerebral cortex and the limbic system (which includes the hippocampus and amygdala). NMDA receptors are essential for several cognitive and sensory processes, including learning, memory, emotion, and pain perception.