Role of the 5-HT2A Receptor in Self- and Other-Initiated Social Interaction in Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Induced States : A Pharmacological fMRI Study Katrin H. Preller, Leonhard Schilbach, Thomas Pokorny, Jan Flemming, Erich Seifritz, and Franz X. Vollenweider The Journal of Neuroscience, 2018, 38, (14), 3603–3611. Doi : 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1939-17.2018 Distortions of self-experience are critical symptoms of psychiatric disorders and have detrimental effects on social interactions. In light of the immense need for improved and targeted interventions for social impairments, it is important to better understand the neurochemical substrates of social interaction abilities. We therefore investigated the pharmacological and neural correlates of self- and other-initiated social interaction. In [...]
Lire la suiteThe Varieties of the Psychedelic Experience: A Preliminary Study of the Association Between the Reported Subjective Effects and the Binding Affinity Profiles of Substituted Phenethylamines and Tryptamines Federico Zamberlan, Camila Sanz, Rocío Martínez Vivot, Carla Pallavicini, Fire Erowid, Earth Erowid and Enzo Tagliazucchi Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 2018, 12, 54. doi : 10.3389/fnint.2018.00054 Classic psychedelics are substances of paramount cultural and neuroscientific importance. A distinctive feature of psychedelic drugs is the wide range of potential subjective effects they can elicit, known to be deeply influenced by the internal state of the user (“set”) and the surroundings (“setting”). The observation of crosstolerance and a series [...]
Lire la suiteModern Clinical Research on LSD Matthias E Liechti Neuropsychopharmacology, 2017, 42, 2114–2127. doi : 10.1038/npp.2017.86 All modern clinical studies using the classic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in healthy subjects or patients in the last 25 years are reviewed herein. There were five recent studies in healthy participants and one in patients. In a controlled setting, LSD acutely induced bliss, audiovisual synesthesia, altered meaning of perceptions, derealization, depersonalization, and mystical experiences. These subjective effects of LSD were mediated by the 5-HT2A receptor. LSD increased feelings of closeness to others, openness, trust, and suggestibility. LSD impaired the recognition of sad and fearful faces, reduced left [...]
Lire la suiteThe effects of microdose LSD on time perception: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial Steliana Yanakieva, Naya Polychroni, Neiloufar Family, Luke T. J. Williams, David P. Luke, Devin B. Terhune Psychopharmacology, 2018 Doi : 10.1007/s00213-018-5119-x Abstract Rationale : Previous research demonstrating that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) produces alterations in time perception has implications for its impact on conscious states and a range of psychological functions that necessitate precise interval timing. However, interpretation of this research is hindered by methodological limitations and an inability to dissociate direct neurochemical effects on interval timing from indirect effects attributable to altered states of consciousness. Methods : We conducted a randomised, double-blind, [...]
Lire la suiteRegulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids Linda A Parker, Erin M Rock and Cheryl L Limebeer British Journal of Pharmacology, 2011, 163, 1411-1422. Doi : 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01176.x Abstract Considerable evidence demonstrates that manipulation of the endocannabinoid system regulates nausea and vomiting in humans and other animals. The anti-emetic effect of cannabinoids has been shown across a wide variety of animals that are capable of vomiting in response to a toxic challenge. CB1 agonism suppresses vomiting, which is reversed by CB1 antagonism, and CB1 inverse agonism promotes vomiting. Recently, evidence from animal experiments suggests that cannabinoids may be especially useful in treating the more difficult to control [...]
Lire la suiteRegulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system Keith A. Sharkey, Nissar A. Darmani, and Linda A. Parker European Journal of Pharmacology, 2014 January 5; 722. doi : 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.09.068. Abstract Nausea and vomiting (emesis) are important elements in defensive or protective responses that animals use to avoid ingestion or digestion of potentially harmful substances. However, these neurally-mediated responses are at times manifested as symptoms of disease and they are frequently observed as side-effects of a variety of medications, notably those used to treat cancer. Cannabis has long been known to limit or prevent nausea and vomiting from a variety of causes.This has [...]
Lire la suiteTranslational evidence for ayahuasca as an antidepressant : what’s next ? Rafael Guimaraes dos SANTOS, José Carlos BOUSO British Journal of Psychiatry, 2019, 41, (4), 275-276. Doi : 10.1590/1516-4446-2019-4104 Depression is among the most important contributors to global disability and suicidal deaths. Available antidepressants are usually selective inhibitors of serotonin and norepinephrine uptake, which need weeks of daily intake before therapeutic effects appear, have limited efficacy for many patients, and induce significant adverse reactions after prolonged use. Therefore, recent research has focused on finding new antidepressant compounds that are fast-acting, more effective, and less toxic. The article recently published by da Silva et al. in the [...]
Lire la suited-Lysergic acid diethylamide has major potential as a cognitive enhancer Felipe Augusto Cini, Isis Ornelas, Encarni Marcos, Livia Goto-Silva, Juliana Nascimento, Sergio Ruschi, José Salerno, Karina Karmirian, Marcelo Costa, Eduardo Sequerra, Dráulio de Araújo, Luis Fernando Tófoli, César Rennó-Costa, Daniel Martins-de-Souza, Amanda Feilding, Stevens Rehen, Sidarta Ribeiro BioRxiv, 6 december 2019. Doi : 10.1101/866814 Abstract Psychedelic agonists of serotonin receptors induce neural plasticity and synaptogenesis, but their potential to enhance learning remains uncharted. Here we show that a single dose of d-LSD, a potent serotonergic agonist, increased novel object preference in young and adult rats several days after treatment. d- LSD alone did not increase preference [...]
Lire la suitePsilocybin-Induced Decrease in Amygdala Reactivity Correlates with Enhanced Positive Mood in Healthy Volunteers Rainer Kraehenmann, Katrin H. Preller, Milan Scheidegger, Thomas Pokorny, Oliver G. Bosch, Erich Seifritz, and Franz X. Vollenweider Biological Psychiatry, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.04.010 Background : The amygdala is a key structure in serotonergic emotion-processing circuits. In healthy volunteers, acute administration of the serotonin 1A/2A/2C receptor agonist psilocybin reduces neural responses to negative stimuli and induces mood changes toward positive states. However, it is little known whether psilocybin reduces amygdala reactivity to negative stimuli and whether any change in amygdala reactivity is related to mood change. Methods : This study assessed the effects of [...]
Lire la suiteLSD enhances suggestibility in healthy volunteers R. L. Carhart-Harris, M. Kaelen, M. G. Whalley, M. Bolstridge, A. Feilding, D. J. Nutt Psychopharmacology, 2014 DOI 10.1007/s00213-014-3714-z Abstract Rationale : Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has a history of use as a psychotherapeutic aid in the treatment of mood disorders and addiction, and it was also explored as an enhancer of mind control. Objectives : The present study sought to test the effect of LSD on suggestibility in a modern research study. Methods : Ten healthy volunteers were administered with intravenous (i.v.) LSD (40–80 μg) in a within-subject placebocontrolled design. Suggestibility and cued mental imagery were assessed using the Creative [...]
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