Psychedelics and Liminal Crisis Quiz

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is one potential outcome of intense liminal crises?

Enhanced cognitive clarity

Improved memory retention

Panic and paranoia (correct)

Increased social connection

What distinguishes psychedelic agents from other classes of drugs?

Their ability to induce physical dependence

Their unique capacity to alter perception, thought, and feeling (correct)

Their recreational use among adolescents

Their role in treating anxiety disorders exclusively

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of liminal states of mind?

Subjective crisis points

Uncertainty in perception and belief

Intense emotional stability (correct)

Challenged assumptions about reality

How have indigenous peoples historically used psychedelics?

For medicinal, ceremonial, and ritualistic purposes Signup and view all the answers

What question reflects the uncertainty in perception that can arise during liminal crises?

Am I who I’ve been thinking I am? Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of MDMA that differentiates it from most psychedelics?

It is neurotoxic to serotonergic neurons at high doses. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following compounds is part of the substituted phenethylamines?

2C-B Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary psychoactive component in ayahuasca?

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the effects of psilocybin?

It is consistently ranked as one of the least harmful illegal drugs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable pharmacological feature of bufotenin?

It is excreted through the skin of the Sonoran desert toad. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the NBOMe compounds from the 2C-x family?

They have a different structural composition with a benzyl ring. Signup and view all the answers

Which receptor types does MDMA have an agonist affinity for?

Multiple monoamine and adrenergic receptors. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'entactogen' refer to in relation to MDMA?

Its capacity to induce empathy and emotional connection. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common outcome for atheist individuals after experiencing psychedelics?

They often no longer identify as atheists. Signup and view all the answers

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

mGlu2 receptor Signup and view all the answers

Which class of psychedelics is associated with the most receptor interactions?

Lysergic Acid (LSD) Signup and view all the answers

What significant physiological change was noted in the thalamus and medial prefrontal cortex during psychedelic experiences?

Unexpected decreases in activity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following models does the REBUS (Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics) propose a synthesis of?

Free-Energy Principle and Bayesian Brain Hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the 5-HT2A receptor in psychedelic experiences?

To serve as a necessary but insufficient condition for the psychedelic experience Signup and view all the answers

In the study mentioned, what was the shared mystical experience reported by users of psychedelics?

Communication with benevolent beings Signup and view all the answers

What effect does psychedelic use have on the probabilistic transition dynamics between functional brain states?

Changes in transition dynamics between states Signup and view all the answers

What does the Entropic Brain Hypothesis propose about conscious states?

They exist on an entropy spectrum from low to high flexibility. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Bayesian Brain Hypothesis contribute to optimization in the brain?

It utilizes Bayes theorem for ongoing statistical sampling. Signup and view all the answers

Which finding was associated with the use of LSD in reducing anxiety based on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory?

There was a significant reduction in trait anxiety by both 2 and 12 months. Signup and view all the answers

What outcome was predicted by decreased amygdala activity following treatment with psilocybin?

Improvement in depression scores. Signup and view all the answers

In treatment-resistant patients with depression, what dosages of psilocybin were noted to yield significant decreases in depressive signs?

10mg and 25mg during psychotherapy-assisted sessions. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did MDMA have in treating social anxiety among autistic adults?

It reduced severe social anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What is entropy a measure of in relation to the brain's information structure?

The balance between rigid and flexible conscious states. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the increase in functional connectivity in the brain as a result of psychedelic drug use?

An entropy gain within the neural networks. Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential mechanism by which MDMA may help treat PTSD?

Enhancing memory reconsolidation Signup and view all the answers

Which scale showed a significant decrease in functional impairment for subjects receiving MDMA therapy compared to placebo?

Sheehan Disability Scale Signup and view all the answers

What subjective effect is commonly associated with dissociative substances?

Depersonalization and derealization Signup and view all the answers

Which psychedelic is noted for potentially providing a protective effect against antisocial criminal behavior?

Psilocybin Signup and view all the answers

What type of receptor does salvinorin A primarily act upon?

Opioid κ-receptor Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a short-term effect of smoking salvia seeds?

Dissociative effects lasting about five minutes Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of quadazocine in relation to salvia effects?

It blocks the effects of salvinorin A Signup and view all the answers

What change does MDMA assisted therapy facilitate in patients with eating disorders?

Reduction in eating disorder symptoms Signup and view all the answers

What long-term change in attitudes is associated with a single instance of psychedelic use?

Increased anti-authoritarian attitudes Signup and view all the answers

What neurotransmitter is primarily associated with MDMA's therapeutic effects in PTSD treatment?

Serotonin Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary psychoactive metabolite of ibogaine in the body?

Noribogaine Signup and view all the answers

Which receptor does dextromethorphan primarily act as a non-competitive antagonist for?

NMDA Signup and view all the answers

What effect does high-dose dextromethorphan share with classical psychedelics?

Visual distortion Signup and view all the answers

Which effect is commonly associated with phencyclidine (PCP) use?

Psychomotor agitation Signup and view all the answers

Which receptor does ketamine NOT act upon?

D1 Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic neuropharmacological effect of ibogaine?

Increase in opioid receptor affinity Signup and view all the answers

What is the proposed effect of ketamine on patients with depression?

Reduces bursting activity in the lateral habenula Signup and view all the answers

How does phencyclidine (PCP) affect memory according to its subjective effects?

Causes delusions and hallucinations Signup and view all the answers

Which potential risk is associated with high doses of ketamine?

Neurotoxicity Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic subjective effect of ibogaine?

Ego dissolution Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psyc 383 - Lecture 9: Hallucinogens

Course: Psychopharmacology
Topic: Hallucinogens
Subtopics: Psychedelics & Dissociatives

The Liminality Crisis

Question: How to differentiate real from illusory experiences?
Answer: Liminal states of mind are subjective crisis points, the peak of uncertainty in perception and belief.
Subjectivity is questioned: The internal nature of perception is challenged as a person considers if their mind is perceiving or creating, and where their self ends and the environment begins.

Psychedelics

Definition: The distinguishing feature is the capacity to reliably induce altered perception, thought, and feeling not usually experienced except in dreams or religious exaltation.
Expert: Jerome Jaffe (1990)

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

Study: Research comparing the similarity of drug effects to dream states.
Data: Charts and graphs illustrate similarity measurements, with categories like serotonergic, entactogen, dissociative, oneirogen, deliriant, depressant, stimulant, antipsychotic / MAOI, and other drug classifications.
Substances: The graph includes bar graphs and lines representing various substances, indicating strengths of similarity in low lucidity dreams and high lucidity dreams by names and chemical abbreviations.

Brief History of Psychedelics

Timeline: A chronological overview of psychedelic drug discoveries, isolations, syntheses, and historical uses in research and therapy.
Key milestones: Dates for various stages are highlighted on a time scale, correlating with the discoveries, synthesis, and the introduction of the term "dissociative anaesthetic" by various scientists.
Substances: LSD, psilocin, psilocybin, PCP, and ketamine are mentioned and their timelines of isolation and synthesis are displayed through the graphic.

Psychedelics: Additional Notes

Clinical history: Early researchers termed psychedelics "psychotomimetics" due to their ability to induce schizophrenic-like symptoms.
Later clinical uses included treatment for conditions like alcoholism, various addiction types, autism, and improving alcoholism, OCD signs during psychotherapy using psilocybin or LSD.
MDMA, an entactogen, is used by psychiatrists.

Classes of Psychedelic Drugs

Structures: Two main classes distinguished by minor structural differences: phenethylamines and tryptamines.
Chemical structures: Chemical structure diagrams are presented for each group, highlighting the key chemical features of each class. The diagrams include different chemical structures for LSD, psilocin, and other psychedelic compounds (salvinorin A, bufotenin, DMT, etc), demonstrating their molecular differences.

Specific Psychedelic-Class Drugs

Phenethylamines (Mescaline, MDMA, etc.):
- Mescaline: Prototypical phenethylamine found in cactus species (peyote, San Pedro). It has a half-life of about six hours.
- MDMA: Often referred to as an entactogen, potent releaser of monoamines and also binds to various receptor sites. It can have neurotoxic effects and cause serotonin syndrome at high doses.
Substituted Phenethylamines: Family of research compounds similar to phenethylamines, varying in the position of the NH2 group
- These compounds are typically highly potent psychedelics, and some are lethal at high doses.
Tryptamines (Psilocybin-psilocin, Bufotenin, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT):
- Psilocybin/Psilocin: Derived from mushrooms; consistently ranked as one of the least harmful illegal drugs, less harmful than alcohol/tobacco
- Bufotenin: Produced by a Sonoran desert toad; similar effects to other tryptamines, readily excreted through the skin
- DMT & 5-MeO-DMT: Important component of ayahuasca brew; often smoked, producing intense psychedelic effects
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD): Derived from a rye fungus; often in blotter paper form.
- Bicycle Day: Date when Albert Hoffman experienced LSD's effects for the first time

Psychological effects of Psychedelics

Mystical Experiences: Hallucinogens often induce profound mystical experiences.
Common effects: Varying from visions of colors, seeing objects moving and other perceptions, losing track of time and space, changes in feeling of sense of self, and altering relationships with the environment.
Psychological effects: Includes changes in suggestibility, increased emotional responses to music and other stimulations, perception of closeness, gratitude, purpose, forgiveness, feelings about death, transcendence, satisfaction, mindfulness, psychological distress reduction, general psychopathological symptom reduction

Psychological Effects: Perception

Visual Perception: Changes in visual perception, including Binocular rivalry reduction or increase.
Other effects: Changes in sense of time, spatial orientation, and emotional responses to sensory stimuli.

Psychological Effects: Personality

Openness to experience: Psilocybin use consistently leads to an increase.
Other effects: Improvements also seen in extraversion and conscientiousness, with a decrease in neuroticism following acute psilocybin experience.

Psychedelics & Nature-Relatedness

Research: Correlation between psychedelic use and positive environmental attitude.
Pro-environmental behavior and climate change knowledge were improved.
Nature-relatedness increased after psychedelic use.

Psychological Effects: "Mystical"

Sequence of Experiences: A typical sequence of events during a mystical experience is described (e.g. sensory realm, symbolic, and integral levels).
Broad Range of Experiences: Many variations and interpretations exist around what constitutes a "mystical" experience.

Mechanisms of Action

Receptors: Major targets are 5-HT2A receptors, but others are also impacted.
Chemical interactions: Interactions with other receptors like mGlu2, and catecholamines is also significant.
Understanding this aids in understanding specific actions.

Neurophysiology

Changes in brain activity: Psychedelics cause changes in the thalamus, ACC, PCC, and medial prefrontal cortex, and the DMN.
Functional states: A shift in typical brain activity states and patterns occur from psychedelic use.

Novel Functional Dynamics

Brain state changes: Psychedelics induce novel brain states, and transition dynamics are not typical of regular brain activity.

REBUS: Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics

Model: Integrating previous brain models, the 'REBUS' model suggests that psychedelics induce more relaxed beliefs.
Mechanism: Predicts minimization of prediction error and increased expected reward.

Hierarchical Predictive Coding

Description: Psychedelics cause disruption in hierarchical predictive coding, possibly related to the changes in subjective experiences.

The Entropic Brain Hypothesis

Definition: A model where consciousness is placed on a spectrum of entropy, ranging from fixed to flexible.
Mechanism: Psychedelic drugs' effects are seen as an increase in the 'entropy' of the brain due to increased functional connectivity.

Clinical Applications

Conditions: Psychedelics show promise in treating conditions as shown through studies.
Anxiety, depression, PTSD are included as target conditions.
Treatment effects: Reports of reduced anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms following psychedelic assisted therapy.

Dissociatives

Effects: Include depersonalization, derealization, and detachment from the self, surroundings, and reality.
Mechanism: Often involve NMDA antagonism, with variable affinities for the specific drug.
Examples: Salvia divinorum, Ketamine, PCP.

Specific Drug Profiles

Salvia divinorum: Native to Oaxaca, Mexico; psychoactive compound is salvinorin A, an opioid K-receptor agonist.
Ibogaine: Derived from Central African shrub Tabernanthe iboga; rapidly converted to noribogaine; used to treat addictions, including opioid abuse and alcoholism.
Dextromethorphan (DXM): Over-the-counter cough suppressant; shows opioid-like effects and NMDA antagonism at higher doses.
Phencyclidine (PCP): Potent dissociative; acts as a non-competitive NMDA and σ1 receptor antagonist.
Ketamine: A popular dissociative; less potent than PCP; used for sedation; shows antidepressant properties in some cases.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on psychedelics and their impact on the mind. This quiz covers various aspects of liminal crises, psychedelic agents, and their historical use by indigenous peoples. Challenge yourself with questions regarding the pharmacological features and effects of different substances.