Cultural Neurophenomenology of Psychedelic Thought : Guiding the “Unconstrained” Mind Through Ritual Context Michael Lifshitz, Eli Sheiner, and Laurence J. Kirmayer The Oxford Handbook of Spontaneous Thought : Mind-Wandering, Creativity, and Dreaming, Edited by Kalina Christoff and Kieran C.R. Fox May 2018 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190464745.013.4 Abstract This chapter explores psychedelics as catalysts of spontaneous thought. Classic serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca can induce potent alterations in cognition and perception. The chapter reviews research on these substances through the lens of cultural neurophenomenology, which aims to trace how neurobiology and sociocultural factors interact to shape experience. After a decades-long hiatus, the scientific study of psychedelics [...]
Lire la suiteClassic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences : Phenomenology and Neural Correlates Frederick S. Barrett and Roland R. Griffiths The following chapter will appear in the Springer text “Behavioral Neurobiology of Psychedelic Drugs”, in the series “Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience” that is edited by Adam L Halberstadt, Franz X Vollenweider, and David E Nichols Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2017 March 26. DOI: 10.1007/7854_2017_474 Abstract This chapter begins with a brief review of descriptions and definitions of mystical-type experiences and the historical connection between classic hallucinogens and mystical experiences. The chapter then explores the empirical literature on experiences with classic hallucinogens in which claims about mystical or religious experiences [...]
Lire la suiteDose-related Effects of Salvinorin A in Humans : Dissociative, Hallucinogenic, and Memory Effects MacLEAN K.A., JOHNSON M.W., REISSIG C.J., PRISINZANO T.E., GRIFFITHS R.R. : Psychopharmacology (Berl), 2013, 226, (2), 381–392. doi: 10.1007/s00213-012-2912-9 Abstract Rationale—Salvinorin A is a kappa opioid agonist and the principal psychoactive constituent of the plant Salvia divinorum, which has increased in popularity as a recreational drug over the past decade. Few human studies have examined salvinorin A. Objective—This double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the dose-related effects of inhaled salvinorin A in individuals with histories of hallucinogen use. Methods—Eight healthy hallucinogen-using adults inhaled up to 16 doses of salvinorin A (0.375 - 21 μg/kg) in ascending order. Physiological, behavioral, [...]
Lire la suitePsychedelics as a treatment for disorders of consciousness Gregory SCOTT and Robin L. CARHART-HARRIS Neuroscience of Consciousness, 2019, 5, (1), niz003 doi: 10.1093/nc/niz003 Abstract Based on its ability to increase brain complexity, a seemingly reliable index of conscious level, we propose testing the capacity of the classic psychedelic, psilocybin, to increase conscious awareness in patients with disorders of consciousness. We also confront the considerable ethical and practical challenges this proposal must address, if this hypothesis is to be directly assessed. Key words : disorders of consciousness; psychedelics; psilocybin; complexity Introduction Disorders of consciousness (DoC) are the most devastating form of impairment that may follow acquired brain injury. In [...]
Lire la suiteThe Mechanisms of Psychedelic Visionary Experiences: Hypotheses from Evolutionary Psychology Michael J. Winkelman Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2017, 11, article 539, 1-17. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00539 Neuropharmacological effects of psychedelics have profound cognitive, emotional, and social effects that inspired the development of cultures and religions worldwide. Findings that psychedelics objectively and reliably produce mystical experiences press the question of the neuropharmacological mechanisms by which these highly significant experiences are produced by exogenous neurotransmitter analogs. Humans have a long evolutionary relationship with psychedelics, a consequence of psychedelics’ selective effects for human cognitive abilities, exemplified in the information rich visionary experiences. Objective evidence that psychedelics produce classicmystical experiences, coupled [...]
Lire la suiteSalvinorin A : Pharmacology, therapeutic potential and structural considerations of a unique non-nitrogenous selective k-opioid receptor agonist, and active component of the sage Salvia divinorum. Adriano Ciaffoni Graduate School of Life Sciences, Utrecht University July 2014, Utrecht, The Netherlands Summary Salvia divinorum is a plant indigenous of Oaxaca, Mexico. Traditionally, the plant is used for healing and divinatory purposes. At present, S. divinorum is also used recreationally by teenagers and young adults around the world. The main active component is salvinorin A, a unique non-nitrogenous kappa-opioid receptor agonist with hallucinogenic properties. Scientific interest is high, due to two facts: 1) salvinorin A was the first [...]
Lire la suiteCannabis à usage thérapeutique, la longue marche, Dr Bertrand Lebeau-Leibovici, UFCM, Strasbourg, 28 juin 2019
Lire la suiteOpioïdes : le cannabidiol pour réduire la dépendance ? Le cannabidiol (CBD) réduit le craving et l'anxiété chez les personnes ayant des antécédents d'abus d'héroïne/opioïdes, suggérant un rôle possible du cannabis ou de son agent le cannabidiol dans la réduction de la dépendance aux opioïdes. C’est la conclusion de cette étude réalisée à l’Icahn School of Medicine du Mont Sinaï (New York), présentée dans l'American Journal of Psychiatry. L'étude confirme également les effets anti-stress du CBD avec une baisse de la fréquence cardiaque et du taux de cortisol induites par les stimuli de drogues. La grande disponibilité des opioïdes sur prescription ces [...]
Lire la suiteWelcome letter | Registration | Sponsorship DEAR COLLEAGUES It is our pleasure to invite you to participate in The American Conference on Controversies on Cannabis-Based Medicines (Med-CannabisUSA) which will take place January 23-24, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. Med-CannabisUSA will address the many controversies surrounding cannabis-based medicines. Strong public and patient demand has led to the decision to allow cannabis products for medical use all over the world. There is a rapidly-growing basic-science and clinical research literature providing insight into potential use of cannabis products for chronic pain, cancer management, and many other medical areas. Growing concerns and controversies focusing on overly-optimistic therapeutic claims and potential harms parallel recent expanded access [...]
Lire la suiteSalvinorin A, a kappa-opioid receptor agonist hallucinogen : pharmacology and potential template for novel pharmacotherapeutic agents in neuropsychiatric disorders Eduardo R. Butelman and Mary Jeanne Kreek Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2015 doi: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00190 Salvinorin A is a potent hallucinogen, isolated from the ethnomedical plant Salvia divinorum. Salvinorin A is a selective high efficacy kappa-opioid receptor (KOPr) agonist, and thus implicates the KOPr system and its endogenous agonist ligands (the dynorphins) in higher functions, including cognition and perceptual effects. Salvinorin A is the only selective KOPr ligand to be widely available outside research or medical settings, and salvinorin A-containing products have undergone frequent nonmedical use. KOPr/dynorphin [...]
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