Psyc 383: Hallucinogens Insights

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Questions and Answers

What receptor must be coactivated with 5-HT2A to generate the psychedelic response?

5-HT2C

mGlu2 (correct)

5-HT1A

What is a common mystical experience reported by users of psychedelics?

Experiencing extreme fear and paranoia

Feeling connected to nature without any beings

Communicating with a benevolent, intelligent being (correct)

Gaining insight into mathematics

Which class of psychedelics primarily interacts with the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors?

DMT

Lysergic acids

Phenethylamines (correct)

Tryptamines

What represents an unexpected finding in neurophysiology during psychedelic experiences?

Decreased activity in the thalamus Signup and view all the answers

How do the probabilistic transition dynamics between functional states change under psychedelics?

There is an increased likelihood of certain transitions Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of atheist subjects identified as non-atheist after the use of psychedelics?

Two thirds Signup and view all the answers

Which brain model is not included in the REBUS synthesis for understanding psychedelics?

Cognitive Dissonance Theory Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant psychological effect of psychedelics noted in studies?

Ego-dissolution Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of subjects did not meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD after 18 months following three MDMA sessions?

67% Signup and view all the answers

Which scale showed a significant decrease in functional impairment when comparing MDMA to placebo?

Sheehan Disability Scale Signup and view all the answers

What has a protective effect against antisocial criminal behavior?

Lifetime classic psychedelic use Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect responsible for the name 'dissociatives'?

Detachment from self and surroundings Signup and view all the answers

What is the main psychoactive molecule in Salvia Divinorum?

Salvinorin A Signup and view all the answers

What effect do dissociatives primarily exert through NMDA antagonism?

Derealization Signup and view all the answers

What kind of receptors does Salvinorin A primarily act upon?

Kappa-opioid receptors Signup and view all the answers

What subjective effect is commonly associated with high doses of dissociatives?

Feeling of observing oneself from outside Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about MDMA-assisted therapy is true?

MDMA may assist in the reduction of eating disorder symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

What can Salvia Divinorum’s effects vary significantly based on?

Method of administration Signup and view all the answers

What neurotransmitters does MDMA primarily affect as a potent releaser?

Serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic effect of psilocybin?

Used ritualistically and medicinally Signup and view all the answers

What compound is primarily responsible for the psychedelics in ayahuasca?

DMT Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the 2C-x family of compounds?

Variation in the placement of the NH2 group Signup and view all the answers

Which receptor types does MDMA have an affinity for as an agonist?

M1, M2, and D2 receptors Signup and view all the answers

Which psychedelic is derived from the bufo alvarius toad?

Bufotenin Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant risk associated with high doses of MDMA?

Neurotoxicity on serotonergic neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use for 5-MeO-DMT, besides its natural occurrence in plants and toads?

Usually smoked with brief, intense psychedelic effects Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which optimization is negotiated in the Bayesian Brain Hypothesis?

Ongoing statistical sampling Signup and view all the answers

How does entropy relate to conscious states according to the Entropic Brain Hypothesis?

All conscious states fall on a spectrum from low to high entropy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following results was observed in patients treated with psilocybin for terminal cancer according to said studies?

Significant reduction in anxiety and depression Signup and view all the answers

What effect do MDMA treatments have on individuals with severe social anxiety?

Significant reduction in severe social anxiety Signup and view all the answers

What were the palliative outcomes observed in patients with treatment-resistant depression after psilocybin sessions?

Decreased scores of depression Signup and view all the answers

In a study of treatment-resistant patients, what dosages of psilocybin were administered over two sessions?

10mg and 25mg Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the increases in functional connectivity in the brain linked to psychedelic drug use?

It can be described as an entropy gain Signup and view all the answers

What two main change processes were identified in the context of psilocybin treatment for depression?

Enhanced emotional regulation and behavioral flexibility Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary pharmacological action of ibogaine in treating addictions?

Non-competitive NMDA antagonist Signup and view all the answers

Which subjective effect is commonly associated with high doses of dextromethorphan (DXM)?

Time and space distortion Signup and view all the answers

Which receptor interactions are involved in the effects of phencyclidine (PCP)?

NMDA, sigma, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors Signup and view all the answers

What effect can chronic use of ketamine lead to regarding brain chemistry?

Reduced D1 receptor binding in the prefrontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

What effect does ibogaine have on glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)?

Increases its expression Signup and view all the answers

What is the common mode of administration for phencyclidine (PCP)?

Smoked, orally, or injected Signup and view all the answers

In the context of antidepressant effects, how long did it take on average for responders to relapse after ketamine infusion?

18 days Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following subjective effects is NOT typically associated with ketamine use?

Enhanced auditory perception Signup and view all the answers

What is a key implication of using phencyclidine (PCP) in research?

It serves as a model for schizophrenia. Signup and view all the answers

What neurotransmitter release does ketamine stimulate primarily in the mesocortical pathway?

Dopamine Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common method of administering LSD?

Oral (blotter paper) Signup and view all the answers

Which psychedelic is known for significantly increasing openness to experience after use?

Psilocybin Signup and view all the answers

What psychological effect is NOT commonly associated with psychedelics?

Increased cognitive empathy Signup and view all the answers

In the context of psychedelics, what does the term 'set' refer to?

The individual's mindset or psychological state Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following effects on time perception is typically observed with psilocybin?

Time distortion where minutes feel like hours Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological effect is frequently associated with the emotional responses elicited by music during psychedelic experiences?

Enhanced emotional responses facilitating trance states Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Marsh Chapel 'Good Friday' Experiment?

To evaluate psilocybin's impact on divinity students Signup and view all the answers

What effect does high dose psilocybin have on motion perception?

Reduces tracking performance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following changes in personality dimensions does psilocybin NOT appear to induce?

Increase in neuroticism Signup and view all the answers

Which outcome is correlated with lifetime experiences with psychedelics?

Improved mental well-being Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the 'Integral Level' of psychedelic experience?

Confrontation with fundamental reality or God Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT a part of the trip experience for psychedelics?

Symbolism Signup and view all the answers

What is a common visual perception effect associated with psilocybin usage?

Increased color enhancement Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psyc 383: Lecture 9 - Hallucinogens

Psychopharmacology lecture covering hallucinogens, specifically psychedelics and dissociatives.

The Liminality Crisis

Liminal states of mind are subjective crisis points, representing the apex of uncertainty in perception or belief.
Individuals experience challenges to their assumptions about reality during these states.
Questions arise such as whether the mind is perceiving or creating reality, the boundaries between self and environment, and the nature of one's identity.
Possible outcomes of intense liminal crises include panic, paranoia, denial, surrender, (pan-)agnosticism, and courage/wisdom.

Psychedelics

The key feature distinguishing psychedelic agents from other drugs is their reliable ability to induce altered perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, typically not experienced otherwise, except in dreams or times of religious exaltation (Jerome Jaffe, 1990).

Drugs and Dream Similarity (Sanz et al., 2018)

Studies show similarities between drug-induced states and dream states.
Graphs and data visualizations illustrate the degree of similarity between different substances and dream states, categorized by classes of psychedelic drugs.

Brief History of Psychedelics

The timeline traces the isolation, synthesis and discovery of various psychedelic drugs (mescaline, psilocin/psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine)
Key figures and dates are highlighted highlighting developments in their synthesis, initial studies, clinical trials, regulation, and their status.

History of Psychedelics

Psychedelics have been used by indigenous cultures for millennia.
The term "psychedelic" was coined by Humphrey Osmond and Aldous Huxley.
Key milestones include the isolation of mescaline, the synthesis of MDMA, and LSD, as well as their history of use in therapy.

Clinical History of Psychedelics

Early researchers termed psychedelics "psychotomimetics" due to their ability to induce schizophrenic-like symptoms.
Clinical applications include the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions, autism, and couples counseling.

Classes of Psychedelic Drugs

Two primary structural classes, phenethylamines and tryptamines, differ in minor functional details.

Phenethylamines: Mescaline

Mescaline is a prototypical psychedelic phenethylamine found in cacti (peyote and San Pedro).
It has a half-life of approximately 6 hours.
Commonly used and legally protected in certain Native American religious practices.
Introduced to Western society by Aldous Huxley, who described experiences of visual fractals, synaesthesia, and altered time perception.

Phenethylamines: MDMA, MDA, etc.

Often referred to as entactogens.
Potent releasers of monoamines (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine).
Exhibit affinity for various receptors, including serotonin and dopamine receptors.
Can be neurotoxic at high doses.
Associated with effects like euphoria, increased empathy, and emotional contagion.

Substituted Phenethylamines

The 2C-X family of compounds have similar structures but vary in the placement of the substituent group on the aromatic ring.
NBOMe compounds are also in this family but have a benzyl ring, resulting in a change in affinities.

Tryptamines: Psilocybin

Naturally derived from the psilocybe genus of mushrooms.
Psilocybin rapidly converts to psilocin (psychoactive).
Considered one of the least harmful illegal drugs.
Found in various religious or cultural practices.
About 12% of North American adults have used psilocybin.

Tryptamines: Bufotenin

Found in the skin secretions of the Sonoran desert toad (Bufo alvarius).
A psychedelic tryptamine.
Similar properties to other tryptamines but less commonly used due to the difficulty in obtaining the toad.

Tryptamines - DMT, 5-MeO-DMT

Ayahuasca is a brew used by indigenous South American peoples to induce psychedelic effects.
Contains DMT as a primary psychoactive constituent, along with harmine/harmaline (MAO inhibitors).
5-MeO-DMT is also found in various plants and other species.

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD-25)

Naturally derived from a fungus that infects rye.
Key event: "Bicycle Day" when Albert Hofmann accidentally discovered LSD's psychedelic effects.

Bicycle Day - April 19, 1943

Albert Hofmann's experience on April 19, 1943, when he first explored the psychedelic effects of LSD.

LSD

The substance derived from ergot, a fungus.
Different forms exist (e.g., crystallized, blotter paper).
Has varied uses from a therapeutic perspective to illicit uses due to its diverse effects.

Psychological Effects of Psychedelics

Experiences vary depending on dose, setting, and individual factors.
Qualitative experience patterns across different psychedelic substances include peak experiences, afterglow, and residual effects.
Many experiences are significantly related to altered states of consciousness, frequently accompanied by mystical or ecstatic states.
Some experience anxiety and despair.

Psychological Effects: Perception

Visual perception can be affected, including binocular rivalry, color enhancement, and changes in visual perception due to drug use.
Changes in time perception, auditory perceptions (e.g., heightened responses to music), and sleep (including REM cycles and slow-wave sleep).

Psychological Effects: Personality

Psilocybin use leads to significant increases in openness to experience.
Follow-up studies show increased extraversion and conscientiousness, and some decrease in neuroticism potentially due to the substance.

Psychedelics and Nature-Relatedness

Studies have shown a link between psychedelic use and heightened nature-relatedness.
Psychological dimensions of nature-relatedness increased after psilocybin use.
Authoritarianism/liberalism views also change.

Psychological Effects: "Mystical"

Psychedelic experiences often involve a sense of profound understanding, self-transformation, and connection with a higher power/reality.
A wide range of mystical experiences can be induced, frequently resulting in a sense of religious or spiritual significance.
Several studies compare the mystical experience to that of non-drug users.

Mechanisms of Action

Psychedelic drugs act as agonists for the 5-HT2A receptors.
This action, while necessary, isn't sufficient for their effect.
Different psychedelic classes have varying pharmacological properties affecting receptors in different ways.

Neurophysiology

Psychedelics impact brain regions like the thalamus, ACC, PCC, and medial prefrontal cortex, influencing areas related to ego-dissolution or ego-loss.
Functional connectivity changes.
Patterns differ and can be measured and analyzed.

Novel Functional Dynamics

Psychedelics fundamentally change the transition dynamics between brain states.
A significant change in the probabilistic state transitions occur both before and after psychedelic use.

REBUS - Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychdelics

This is a recently proposed model of how psychedelics work.
It incorporates elements of the Free-Energy Principle, Hierarchical Predictive Coding, Bayesian Brain Hypothesis, and Entropic Brain Hypothesis.

Hierarchical Predictive Coding

This model of brain function involves hierarchical levels processing bottom-up sensory data and top-down predictions, with psychedelics altering sensory data.

The Entropic Brain Hypothesis

Conscious states can be placed on a spectrum from rigid to flexible, represented by entropy levels.
Increased functional connectivity is associated with psychedelic use.

Clinical Applications: Anxiety & Depression

Studies show significant reductions in anxiety and depression, particularly in end-of-life scenarios or treatment-resistant patients. Clinical improvements in psychological outcomes.

Clinical Applications: Depression

Studies show significant depressive symptom reductions in treatment-resistant patients following psilocybin treatment and psychotherapy.

Clinical Applications: PTSD

MDMA treatment is being researched and shows promise as a potential therapy for patients with PTSD where the effects persist over a long period.
Changes in symptoms such as functional impairment, and mental wellbeing, are documented.

Biopsychosocial Healing

Psychedelic uses are potentially linked to psychological outcomes, such as reduced crime, altered suicidality among women, and improved mental health in general.

Dissociatives

Dissociatives are substances that produce feelings of detachment from self, environment, and reality, often characterized by significant psychological effects.

Salvia Divinorum

A plant native to Oaxaca, Mexico, with the psychoactive compound salvinorin A, an opioid к receptor agonist.

Ibogaine

A plant-derived compound with pharmacology in treatment-resistant addictions, often notably alcohol and opioid addictions.

Dextromethorphan (DXM)

A common over-the-counter cough medicine with opioid-like and PCP-like characteristics and potential antidepressant effects at higher doses.

Phencyclidine (PCP)

A potent dissociative with high abuse potential, affecting NMDA receptors and other neurotransmitter systems. Affects brain areas and associated with subjective and behavioral effects.

Ketamine

A dissociative, often used for medical sedation.
There is ongoing research on its potential for treating depression and other mood disorders, potentially associated with neurotoxic effects at high doses.

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Explore Lecture 9 of Psyc 383 which delves into hallucinogens, focusing on psychedelics and dissociatives. Understand the complexities of liminal states and their impact on perception and identity. This quiz will challenge your knowledge on psychopharmacology and related concepts.