Cortikins

Cortikins is a term used in speculative neuroscience to describe a hypothetical class of neuroactive peptides that modulate cortical circuitry. In fictional or theoretical contexts, cortikins are described as short peptide ligands—typically four to ten amino acids long—that influence neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity within the cerebral cortex. They are not an established biological class and are not recognized as approved drugs in real-world medicine.

Proposed mechanisms suggest cortikins are released locally within cortical networks and bind to receptor targets on pyramidal neurons and interneurons. This interaction may alter neurotransmitter release, receptor sensitivity, and intracellular signaling, potentially affecting long-term potentiation and gamma-band oscillations associated with attention and working memory. The specific receptors and pathways vary across models.

Research status is largely theoretical. Some in vitro studies and computer simulations examine how cortikin-like signaling could shape network dynamics, but there is no definitive in vivo evidence and no clinical data to support therapeutic use. As such, cortikins serve as a conceptual tool rather than an established biomedical entity.

Safety and regulatory status follows practical standards for speculative science: no approved applications, with ethics and governance considerations discussed in theory and fictional contexts. See also: neuromodulators, cortical circuits.