LSD and Consciousnesspineda/COGS175/presentations/cs175-07/LSD and...History Background of Aﬀected Systems Eﬀects of LSD LSD and Consciousness Discussion LSD and Consciousness

History Background of Affected Systems Effects of LSD LSD and Consciousness Discussion

LSD and Consciousness

Arya Salehi Kristin Iwata Sean Cross

University of California, San Diego

June 1, 2007

Arya Salehi, Kristin Iwata, Sean Cross UCSD



Outline

1 History

2 Background of Affected Systems

3 Effects of LSD

4 LSD and Consciousness

5 Discussion




Outline

1 History


3 Effects of LSD


5 Discussion




Initial Synthesis

Initial Discovery in Basel, Switzerland, 1938

Dr. Albert Hofmann

No apparent interesting effects

Testing discontinued

the experimental animals became restless during the narcosis

Bicycle Day

April 19, 1943

Found unremarkable properties curious

Self-experimentation




Initial Synthesis

Initial Discovery in Basel, Switzerland, 1938

Dr. Albert Hofmann

No apparent interesting effects

Testing discontinued

the experimental animals became restless during the narcosis

Bicycle Day

April 19, 1943

Found unremarkable properties curious

Self-experimentation




Bicycle Day Notebook

4/19/43

16:20 - 0.5 cc of 1/2 promil aqueous solution of diethylamidetartrate orally = 0.25 mg tartrate. Taken diluted with about10 cc water. Tasteless.

17:00 - Beginning dizziness, feeling of anxiety, visualdistortions, symptoms of paralysis, desire to laugh.

Supplement of 4/21:

Home by bicycle. From 18:00- ca.20:00 most severe crisis.(See special report.)





4/19/43



Supplement of 4/21:






4/19/43



Supplement of 4/21:

Home by bicycle. From 18:00- ca.20:00 most severe crisis.

(See special report.)





4/19/43



Supplement of 4/21:





Outline

1 History


3 Effects of LSD


5 Discussion




Serotonergic Systems

Functions

Mood

Learning and memory

Cognition in PrefrontalCortex

Receptors

More than 15 receptortypes

5-HT#[n]

5-HT1A in limbic system

5-HT2A in CNS




Serotonergic Systems

Functions

Mood

Learning and memory

Cognition in PrefrontalCortex

Receptors

More than 15 receptortypes

5-HT#[n]

5-HT1A in limbic system

5-HT2A in CNS




Dopaminergic Systems

Functions

Reward

Movement

Receptors

D1, D2, D3, D4, D5

Some excitatory, someinhibitory




Dopaminergic Systems

Functions

Reward

Movement

Receptors

D1, D2, D3, D4, D5

Some excitatory, someinhibitory




Outline

1 History


3 Effects of LSD


5 Discussion




Effects of LSD on Serotonin

Agonist or antagonist?

Initially, reported to be serotonergicantagonist

Later, found to modulate serotonergicfunction

Suggested that LSD has direct agonisteffect

Receptors affected

5-HT2A affected most

5-HT1A affected somewhat





Agonist or antagonist?

Initially, reported to be serotonergicantagonist

Later, found to modulate serotonergicfunction

Suggested that LSD has direct agonisteffect

Receptors affected

5-HT2A affected most

5-HT1A affected somewhat





Electrophysiology

Hallucinogens increase evokedresponses in neurons

Modulating hallucinations

5-HT1A activation inhibits 5-HT

5-HT1A agonists increase the stimuluseffects of LSD





Electrophysiology

Hallucinogens increase evokedresponses in neurons

Modulating hallucinations

5-HT1A activation inhibits 5-HT

5-HT1A agonists increase the stimuluseffects of LSD




Effects of LSD on Dopamine

Dopaminergic affects

Not many studies

LSD activatesdopaminergic systems

Not at very low doses

Not in nucleus accumbens




Outline

1 History


3 Effects of LSD


5 Discussion




Mystical Consciousness

Stace’s nine categories

Unity

Objectivity and reality

Transcendence of space & time

Sense of sacredness

Deeply-felt positive mood

Paradoxicality

Alleged and infallibility

Transiency

Positive changes in behavior




Psychedelic Experiences

External senses

All senses enhanced

Synaesthesia

Internal perception

Subjects are certain oflucidity

Perception and ego mergeinto one

Time and space fluctuate




Psychedelic Experiences

External senses

All senses enhanced

Synaesthesia

Internal perception

Subjects are certain oflucidity

Perception and ego mergeinto one

Time and space fluctuate




Reports of experiences

Descriptive anomalies

Paradoxicality of reports

Limitations of language

Sensitivity to stimuli

Sensitivity to words

Music influences visualpatterns

Greater linguisticdiscrimination




Reports of experiences

Descriptive anomalies

Paradoxicality of reports

Limitations of language

Sensitivity to stimuli

Sensitivity to words

Music influences visualpatterns

Greater linguisticdiscrimination




Outline

1 History


3 Effects of LSD


5 Discussion




Discussion



Documents

LSD and Consciousnesspineda/COGS175/presentations/cs175-07/LSD and...History Background of Aﬀected Systems Eﬀects of LSD LSD and Consciousness Discussion LSD and Consciousness