Chronic, Intermittent Microdoses of the Psychedelic N,N‑Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Produce Positive Effects on Mood and Anxiety in Rodents Lindsay P. Cameron, Charlie J. Benson, Brian C. DeFelice, Oliver Fiehn, and David E. Olson ACS Chemical Neurosciences, 2019 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00692 ABSTRACT : Drugs capable of ameliorating symptoms of depression and anxiety while also improving cognitive function and sociability are highly desirable. Anecdotal reports have suggested that serotonergic psychedelics administered in low doses on a chronic, intermittent schedule, so-called “microdosing”, might produce beneficial effects on mood, anxiety, cognition, and social interaction. Here, we test this hypothesis by subjecting male and female Sprague Dawley rats to behavioral testing following the [...]
Lire la suitePowerful substances in tiny amounts: Exploring the practice of microdosing psychedelic drugs Petter Grahl Johnstad Working Paper · December 2017 Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2018, Vol. 35(1) 39–51. Doi : 10.1177/1455072517753339 This article presents an explorative study of microdosing practices with psychedelic drugs. A microdose is defined as a sub-perceptual dose, commonly about one tenth of an ordinary recreational dose, which gives no alteration of consciousness or feeling of intoxication. Respondents (n = 17) were recruited at several Internet fora for individual interviews mediated via private messaging. Every participant was male, and the median respondent was in his 30s with a stable job [...]
Lire la suiteMotives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users Nadia R. P. W. Hutten, Natasha L. Mason, Patrick C. Dolder, Kim P. C. Kuypers International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2019, 1–9 doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyz029 Abstract Background : Microdosing with psychedelics has gained considerable media attention where it is portrayed as a performance enhancer, especially popular on the work floor. While reports are in general positive, scientific evidence about potential negative effects is lacking aside from the prevalence and motives for use. The present study addressed this gap by surveying psychedelic users about their experience with microdosing including their dosing schedule, motivation, and potential experienced negative effects. Methods : An [...]
Lire la suiteThe abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act Matthew W. Johnson, Roland R. Griffiths, Peter S. Hendricks, Jack E. Henningfiel Neuropharmacology, 2018, 142, 143-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.05.012 a b s t r a c t This review assesses the abuse potential of medically-administered psilocybin, following the structure of the 8 factors of the US Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Research suggests the potential safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating cancer-related psychiatric distress and substance use disorders, setting the occasion for this review. A more extensive assessment of abuse potential according to an 8-factor analysis would eventually be required to [...]
Lire la suiteHomological scaffolds of brain functional networks G. Petri, Paul Expert, F. Turkheimer, Robin Carhart-Harris, David Nutt, P.J. hellyer, F. Vaccarino Journal of The Royal Society, Interface, 2014, 11, 20140873 Published : 06 December 2014 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2014.0873 Abstract Networks, as efficient representations of complex systems, have appealed to scientists for a long time and now permeate many areas of science, including neuroimaging (Bullmore and Sporns 2009 Nat. Rev. Neurosci.10, 186–198. (doi:10.1038/nrn2618)). Traditionally, the structure of complex networks has been studied through their statistical properties and metrics concerned with node and link properties, e.g. degree-distribution, node centrality and modularity. Here, we study the characteristics of functional brain networks at [...]
Lire la suiteMicrodosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research Kim P.C. Kuypers, Livia Ng, David Erritzoe, Gitte M. Knudsen, Charles D. Nichols, David E. Nichols, Luca Pani, Anaïs Soula and David Nutt Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2019, 1-10. Doi: 10.1177/0269881119857204 Abstract Background : In the past few years, the issue of ‘microdosing’ psychedelics has been openly discussed in the public arena where claims have been made about their positive effect on mood state and cognitive processes such as concentration. However, there are very few scientific studies that have specifically addressed this issue, and there is no agreed scientific consensus on what microdosing [...]
Lire la suitePositive psychology in the investigation of psychedelics and entactogens : A critical review Henrik Jungaberle, Sascha Thal, Andrea Zeuch, Ansgar Rougemont-Bücking, Maximilian von Heyden, Helena Aicher, Milan Scheidegger Neuropharmacology, 2018 PII: S0028-3908(18)30336-8 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.06.034 Rationale : We reviewed the concepts and empirical findings in studies with psychedelics and entactogens related to positive psychology – the study of healthy human functioning, well-being and eudaemonia. It is an unresolved question how beneficial effects of psychedelics and entactogens are related to the potential risks of these substances – particularly in non-clinical settings. Methods : We searched in PubMed, PsychINFO and the Cochrane Library for controlled clinical and epidemiological studies [...]
Lire la suiteCultural 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 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 [...]
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