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Breakthrough Study Reveals How LSD Dissolves a Person's Sense of Self (newatlas.com)
New submitter future guy shares a report from New Atlas: A fascinating study led by scientists at the University of Zurich has uncovered key insights into the mechanisms behind how our brain generates our sense of self. The researchers administered lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to several participants in order to home in on where in the brain our sense of self is activated and what happens when a powerful psychedelic drug interferes with that process. The study administered 24 subjects either LSD, LSD in combination with ketanserin, or a placebo. Ketanserin is a compound that is known to inhibit many of the effects of LSD by blocking the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A receptor). Each subject lay in an MRI scanner while undergoing a series of social interaction simulations with a virtual avatar. As well as the brain imaging, the subjects' eye movements were monitored to track when they were or were not following the gaze of the virtual avatar.
The study demonstrated LSD-altered brain activity in several regions previously identified as fundamental for developing coherent self-representation during social interaction, including the posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex and the angular gyrus. Most importantly though was the observation that ketanserin normalized the effects of LSD to the point where the group influenced by ketanserin and LSD displayed similar results to those under the effect of the placebo. These results strongly suggest that the 5-HT2A receptor plays a fundamental role in the development of self-awareness, and differentiation between the self and others. The value of this research is two-fold. As well as simply increasing our knowledge of how the brain functions under the influence of psychedelic drugs, it is suggested that different psychiatric conditions could be treated by manipulating the 5-HT2A receptor pathways. The study has been published in the journal JNeurosci.
The study demonstrated LSD-altered brain activity in several regions previously identified as fundamental for developing coherent self-representation during social interaction, including the posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex and the angular gyrus. Most importantly though was the observation that ketanserin normalized the effects of LSD to the point where the group influenced by ketanserin and LSD displayed similar results to those under the effect of the placebo. These results strongly suggest that the 5-HT2A receptor plays a fundamental role in the development of self-awareness, and differentiation between the self and others. The value of this research is two-fold. As well as simply increasing our knowledge of how the brain functions under the influence of psychedelic drugs, it is suggested that different psychiatric conditions could be treated by manipulating the 5-HT2A receptor pathways. The study has been published in the journal JNeurosci.
I can't imagine dropping acid and then just lying in an MRI scanner.
When the MRI machine looks like its breathing, some find it funny, others panic.
LSD Dissolves a Person's Sense of Self
Post something too clever on /. and get modded down.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
One of the remaining legacies of colonialism is the suppression of psychedelics. They were used in religious rituals for thousands of years in the Americas, and as such a sacrement, their use is in fact a constitutionally protected right.
-The art of programming is the pursuit of absolute simplicity.
Other than the mechanism, this is pretty much old news.
Originally published in '79 by Albert Hoffman: LSD, my problem child
https://books.google.com/books...
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The problem is that in today's culture, it seems like 'getting wasted' is the objective of drug use. Drink some beer, take some speed and maybe some shrooms, man. Get bent.
Chemicals are a tool, to be used with care. 'Tripping' shouldn't be a 'gee, wow!' roller coaster ride.
But this amounts to preaching to the choir, I imagine, on /.
Even more disturbing is the fact that the government refuses to accept any thereputic value to weed or the harder stuff.
Yet ketemine seems to accutely end severe suicidal idealation. MDMA can be great for therapy (couples or PTSD). LSD plus therapy while on it looks promising for addiction to more dangerous substances (alcohol included). Mushrooms microdoesed for depression (anecdotally, this is a more tenuous claim than the others).
All of this, but the government decided there is no thereputic value, and judges decided no legal argument can be made to strike down the laws.
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
I've found the gee wow rollercoaster of some substances helpful for self reflection and growth.
Maybe gee whoah is more accurate, but some substances cram self knowledge at a place that's barely comprehensible and could definitely be called a roller coaster, then trigger the profound part of the brain hard (DMT, I'm looking at you).
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
A billionaire who nails lots of hot chicks. Yeah, it must be so awful for him...
One gets claustrophobic in there.Maybe the noise augments it but it's mainly the 'stuck in a tunnel' feeling.
Yea, I personally would lose my shit if they had me strapped down inside of it. But if i was free to move, I would be able to overcome it, but thats even sober. when you do acid or mushrooms or really anything you may see shit on, you have to mentally prepare yourself ahead of time that, "Hey you might see some fucked up shit, its probably not real" and it helps keep your mind at ease. Ive done a ton of drugs in my life and any time i did psychedelics thats the mindset i went in with.. Never had a trip that was less than fantastic! But it sounds like they have found a drug that will help the weak minded people not kill their self on a bad trip. I wonder what it does to help the people that are permafried.
Seems to me you are only able to think what others have told you. From the comments I've read, it seems as if all of us that HAVE taken these types of drugs have a more open mind than you. And apparently it helped us think for ourselfs.
A billionaire who nails lots of hot chicks. Yeah, it must be so awful for him...
Based on his wife's behavior in public, and the multitudes of other women who seem to be involved, I would posit that the number of encounters with each woman approaches 1. That doesn't sound appealing to me, but maybe some people enjoy it.
Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
The problem is that in today's culture, it seems like 'getting wasted' is the objective of drug use. Drink some beer, take some speed and maybe some shrooms, man. Get bent.
Chemicals are a tool, to be used with care. 'Tripping' shouldn't be a 'gee, wow!' roller coaster ride.
Why? Who are you to determine the 'correct' use? This is no different to prohibition really, you have decided on your moral stance and want to impose it on others.