Median raphe nucleus

The median raphe nucleus (or superior central nucleus) is composed of polygonal, fusiform and pyriform neurons and exists rostral to the nucleus raphe pontis.

One fascinating trait of the NCS is its inhibition by lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocin, two serotonin antagonist hallucinogens. The inactivation of the nucleus centralis superior via LSD produces a dose dependent inactivation in the NCS, but not in the raphe pallidus.

The free-moving cats, in which this was discovered, exhibited dose dependent behavioral changes.