Comparison of the behavioral effects of mescaline analogs using the head twitch response in mice Adam L. Halberstadt, Muhammad Chatha, Stephen J. Chapman and Simon D. Brandt Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2019, 1 –9 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119826610 journals.sagepub.com/home/jop Abstract Background : In recent years, there has been increasing scientific interest in the effects and pharmacology of serotonergic hallucinogens. While a large amount of experimental work has been conducted to characterize the behavioral response to hallucinogens in rodents, there has been little systematic investigation of mescaline and its analogs. The hallucinogenic potency of mescaline is increased by α-methylation and by homologation of the 4-methoxy group but it not clear [...]
Lire la suiteDream over life : Psychedelic terphenyl derivative induce hallucination via cannabinoid receptor 1 F.A. Fauzi, M.S. Goh, S.A.T.T. Johari, F. Hashim, M.F.N. Hassim The International Fundamentum Sciences Symposium 2018 IOP Publishing IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 440 (2018) 012045 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/440/1/012045 Abstract. For ages, natural psychedelic resources have been used by ancient tribes for religious inspiration. In modern medicine, these compounds were prescribed to relieve severe distress and depression on cancer patients. Despite medical benefit, abuse of these compounds have become prevalent in our modern society. These compounds usually interacted withcannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) on neuron cell causing hallucination, and on other cell-types. In this [...]
Lire la suiteDeconstructing Ecstasy : The Politics Of MDMA Research Charles S. Grob Addiction Research, 2000, 8, 6, 549-588 http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/16066350008998989 What is Ecstasy? Defined by the New Webster’s Dictionary as a state of intense overpowering emotion, a condition of exultation or mental rapture induced by beauty, music, artistic creation or the contemplation of the divine, ecstasy derives etymologically from the ancient Greek ekstasis, which means flight of the soul from the body. The anthropologist, Mircea Eliade, who explored the roots of religious experience in his book Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, has described the function of this intense state of mind among aboriginal peoples. Select individuals [...]
Lire la suiteChanges in global and thalamic brain connectivity in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness are attributable to the 5- HT2A receptor Katrin H. Preller, Joshua B. Burt, Jie Lisa Ji, Charles Schleifer, Brendan D. Adkinson, Philipp Stampfli, Erich Seifritz, Grega Repovs, John H. Krystal, John D. Murray, Franz X. Vollenweider, Alan Anticevic eLife, 2018, 7, e35082. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.35082.001 Abstract Background : Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has agonist activity at various serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine receptors. Despite the therapeutic and scientific interest in LSD, specific receptor contributions to its neurobiological effects remain unknown. Methods : We therefore conducted a double-blind, randomized, counterbalanced, cross-over study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02451072) during which [...]
Lire la suiteDynamical exploration of the repertoire of brain networks at rest is modulated by psilocybin Louis-David Lord, Paul Expert, Selen Atasoy, Leor Roseman, Kristina Rapuano, Renaud Lambiotte, David J. Nutt, Gustavo Deco, Robin L. Carhart-Harris, Morten L. Kringelbach, Joana Cabral, NeuroImage, 2019, 199, 127–142 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.05.060 A B S T R A C T Growing evidence from the dynamical analysis of functional neuroimaging data suggests that brain function can be understood as the exploration of a repertoire of metastable connectivity patterns (‘functional brain networks’), which potentially underlie different mental processes. The present study characterizes how the brain's dynamical exploration of resting-state networks is rapidly modulated by intravenous [...]
Lire la suitePilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Matthew W Johnson, Albert Garcia-Romeu, Mary P Cosimano and Roland R Griffiths Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2014, Vol. 28(11) 983–992 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0269881114548296 Abstract Despite suggestive early findings on the therapeutic use of hallucinogens in the treatment of substance use disorders, rigorous follow-up has not been conducted. To determine the safety and feasibility of psilocybin as an adjunct to tobacco smoking cessation treatment we conducted an openlabel pilot study administering moderate (20 mg/70 kg) and high (30 mg/70 kg) doses of psilocybin within a structured 15-week smoking cessation treatment [...]
Lire la suiteSerotonergic psychedelics and personality: a systematic review of contemporary research José Carlos Bouso, Rafael G. dos Santos, Miguel Ángel Alcázar-Córcoles, Jaime E. C. Hallak Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 2018 PII: S0149-7634(17)30301-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.02.004 Highlights Serotonergic psychedelics act as agonists at cortical 5-HT2A receptors 5-HT2A receptors are expressed in fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital areas Some personality traits seem to be related to 5-HT2A receptor expression Acute and long-term use of psychedelics is associated with personality changes Personality changes induced by psychedelics may have therapeutic effects Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics act as agonists at cortical 5-HT2A receptors and seem to induce personality changes. We conducted a systematic review of studies assessing the effects [...]
Lire la suitePsychological variables implied in the therapeutic effect of ayahuasca : a contextual approach. Alba Franquesa, Alberto Sainz-Cort, Sam Gandy, Joaquim Soler, Miguel Ángel Alcázar-Córcoles, José Carlos Bouso Psychiatry Research, 2017 PII: S0165-1781(17)31377-X DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.012 Abstract Ayahuasca is a psychedelic decoction originating from Amazonia. The ayahuasca-induced introspective experience has been shown to have potential benefits in the treatment of several pathologies, to protect mental health and to improve neuropsychological functions and creativity, and boost mindfulness. The underlying psychological processes related to the use of ayahuasca in a psychotherapeutic context are not yet well described in the scientific literature, but there is some evidence to suggest that psychological [...]
Lire la suiteLong-term effects of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression : a 5-year qualitative follow-up Rafael G. dos Santos, Rafael Faria Sanches, Flávia de Lima Osório, Jaime E.C. Hallak Archive of Clinical Psychiatry, 2018, 45, 1, 22-4 DOI: 10.1590/0101-60830000000149 Abstract Background : Ayahuasca is a botanical hallucinogenic preparation traditionally used by indigenous populations of Northwestern Amazonian countries for ritual and therapeutic purposes. It is rich in β-carboline alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Preclinical, observational, and experimental studies suggest that ayahuasca and its alkaloids have anxiolytic and antidepressive effects. We recently reported in an open-label trial that ayahuasca administration was associated with significant decreases in depression symptoms for [...]
Lire la suitePsychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Astral X Neural Plasticity, Alexandra C. Greb, Lindsay P. Cameron, Jonathan M. Wong, Eden V. Barragan, Paige C. Wilson, Kyle F. Burbach, Sina Soltanzadeh Zarandi, Alexander Sood, Michael R. Padd, Whitney C. Duim, Megan Y. Dennis, A. Kimberley McAllister, Kassandra M. Ori-McKenney, John A. Gray and David E. Olson Experiment Findings, February 2018 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331396378 SUMMARY Atrophy of neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of depression and related disorders. The ability to promote both structural and functional plasticity in the PFC has been hypothesized to underlie the fast-acting antidepressant properties of the [...]
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