50 Questions
What is the drug action of LSD?
Stimulates serotonergic and dopaminergic receptors
Which positive effect is associated with MDMA?
Emotional elevation, disinhibition, feelings of connectedness with everyone
What is the potential damage associated with MDMA use?
Damage to serotonin-producing neurons
What is the drug action of Psilocybin?
Stimulates serotonin receptors
What positive effect has research indicated for LSD?
May be effective for treating anxiety due to terminal illness, alcoholism, and cluster headaches
What significant increase in personality dimension does a single administration of psilocybin induce?
Openness to experience
What adverse effect is associated with psilocybin use?
May cause nausea, panic attacks, confusion, and psychotic episodes
What social/cultural differences in the use of hallucinogens are mentioned in the text?
Openly used for spiritual purposes in other parts of the world
Which neurotransmitter is mentioned as playing an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep, memory, and many other functions?
Serotonin
What is the specific subclass of drugs known to induce distortion of perception/altered states of consciousness?
Psychedelics/hallucinogens
Which network in the brain is described as a center of self-reflection and strongly tied to the narrative self?
Default mode network (DMN)
What is the term used to describe the loss of one’s sense of self and self-world boundaries, together with a concomitant oceanic feeling of 'oneness' or 'unity'?
Drug-induced ego dissolution (DIED)
Which theory proposes that consciousness is an 'emergent property' of neurons acting collectively?
Entropic Brain Theory
What is the term used to describe the temporary rewiring of the brain in the absence of the DMN regulator or central controller?
Neuroplasticity
Which type of wave activity is associated with neural synchrony?
Gamma wave activity
Which cortex shows increased activity in neuroimaging studies of people on psychedelic drugs?
Insular cortex
What is the term used to describe the simultaneous activation of brain networks that are normally mutually exclusive, perhaps through deactivation of inhibitory neural circuits?
Neural plasticity
According to the text, what is serotonin known as?
Feel good neurotransmitter
Which theory proposes that consciousness results from the coordinated activity of populations of neurons?
Integrated Information Theory (IIT)
What is the term used to describe the highly organized neural circuits in the DMN that act as selective filtering mechanisms?
Neural suppression
What is the term used to describe the temporary rewiring of the brain in the absence of the DMN regulator or central controller?
Entropic Brain Theory
Which neurotransmitter is mentioned as playing an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep, memory, and many other functions?
Serotonin
What is the term used to describe the highly organized neural circuits in the DMN that act as selective filtering mechanisms?
Selective Filtering Mechanisms
Which theory proposes that consciousness results from the coordinated activity of populations of neurons?
Integrated Information Theory
What is the term used to describe the simultaneous activation of brain networks that are normally mutually exclusive, perhaps through deactivation of inhibitory neural circuits?
Ego Dissolution
Which cortex shows increased activity in neuroimaging studies of people on psychedelic drugs?
Insular Cortex
What is the term used to describe the loss of one’s sense of self and self-world boundaries, together with a concomitant oceanic feeling of 'oneness' or 'unity'?
Drug-Induced Ego Dissolution
What is the drug action of Psilocybin?
Facilitates serotonergic activity
Which positive effect is associated with MDMA?
Elevated mood
What is the term used to describe the highly organized neural circuits in the DMN that act as selective filtering mechanisms?
Selective Filtering Mechanisms
What is the potential risk associated with combining MDMA with dancing at raves?
Increase in blood pressure leading to death
What is the main positive effect associated with the use of LSD?
Effective for treating anxiety due to terminal illness, alcoholism, and cluster headaches
What is the drug action of MDMA (Ecstasy)?
Causes release of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
What significant increase in personality dimension does a single administration of psilocybin induce?
Openness to experience
What is the potential adverse effect associated with psilocybin use?
Potential damage to serotonin-producing neurons
What neurotransmitters are affected by the drug action of LSD?
Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
What is the most commonly reported positive effect of MDMA?
Emotional elevation, disinhibition, feelings of connectedness with everyone
What is the main positive effect associated with the use of Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)?
Causes euphoria and may induce spiritual experiences
What is the potential risk associated with using 'Ecstasy' pills?
Pills may be cut with dangerous chemicals
Which society openly used hallucinogens for spiritual purposes since ancient times?
Aztec
What did Guilio Tononi pioneer in consciousness research?
Application of intense magnetic pulses to measure consciousness
What is the perturbational complexity index measured using the 'zap and zip' technique significantly higher in?
Awake volunteers
What is the success rate of psilocybin in treating smoking cessation compared to conventional anti-smoking drugs?
80%
What is the immediate effect size of psilocybin in treating major depression compared to traditional antidepressants?
About four times larger
What did the University of California, Berkeley launch in 2020 to conduct research on the biological bases of cognition, perception, and emotion in the human brain using psychedelics?
Center for the Science of Psychedelics
What is the primary focus of the Center for the Science of Psychedelics at the University of California, Berkeley?
Biological bases of cognition, perception, and emotion
What did early studies, including Abram Hoffer's research in the 1960s, suggest about psychedelic therapy?
Could lead to significant improvements in treating addiction and other psychological disorders
What was the reason for the moratorium on research in psychedelics from the early 1970s to the early 2000s?
Sociopolitical factors
What is the potential downside of using ketamine in treating treatment-resistant depression and addiction?
Effects tend to wear off relatively quickly, requiring repeated infusions and potentially leading to cognitive side effects and addiction
What is the focus of the collaboration between the Center for the Science of Psychedelics and the Graduate Theological Union?
Training of guides or facilitators in the cultural, contemplative, and spiritual care dimensions of psychedelics
Study Notes
Advancements in Consciousness Research and Psychedelic Therapy
- Guilio Tononi pioneered the "zap and zip" technique to measure consciousness by applying intense magnetic pulses to the scalp and recording the resulting brain activity using EEG sensors.
- The perturbational complexity index measured using the zap and zip technique was significantly higher in awake volunteers than in deeply asleep or anesthetized individuals, suggesting a correlation between information processing and consciousness levels.
- Psychedelic therapy, associated with expanded states of consciousness and increased cognitive flexibility, shows potential for treating disorders stemming from rigid thought patterns, such as trauma, addiction, and depression.
- Early studies, including Abram Hoffer's research in the 1960s, suggested that psychedelic therapy, using substances like mescaline and psilocybin, could lead to significant improvements in treating addiction and other psychological disorders.
- Recent studies have indicated the effectiveness of psilocybin in treating addiction, with an 80% success rate in smoking cessation compared to the 35% success rate of conventional anti-smoking drugs.
- Psilocybin has also shown promise in treating major depression, with immediate effects that are about four times larger than traditional antidepressants and without the weeks or months of delay associated with other treatments.
- Ketamine, another psychedelic substance, has also shown effectiveness in treating treatment-resistant depression and addiction, but its effects tend to wear off relatively quickly, requiring repeated infusions and potentially leading to cognitive side effects and addiction.
- A moratorium on research in psychedelics from the early 1970s to the early 2000s was due to sociopolitical factors, but there has been a resurgence of interest and research in recent years, particularly in the use of substances like MDMA and LSD to treat various psychological and emotional disorders.
- The University of California, Berkeley launched the Center for the Science of Psychedelics in 2020 to conduct research on the biological bases of cognition, perception, and emotion in the human brain using psychedelics, with a focus on psilocybin initially.
- The center also plans to explore the integration of psychedelics with psychotherapy for treating psychological disorders, as well as the potential of these compounds to improve cognitive flexibility, alter visual perception, engender feelings of awe, and change patterns of brain activity.
- There are plans for collaboration with the Graduate Theological Union and the eventual training of guides or facilitators in the cultural, contemplative, and spiritual care dimensions of psychedelics.
- The resurgence of interest in psychedelics has led to research on their potential therapeutic use, with a focus on substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD to treat a wide range of psychological and emotional disorders, leading to the establishment of dedicated research centers and initiatives like the Center for the Science of Psychedelics at the University of California, Berkeley.
Test your knowledge of the history and neuropsychological research of psychedelics and hallucinogens in this quiz. Explore their ancient use in Aztec, Mayan, Incan, West African, South Asian, and Egyptian societies, as well as their impact on the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Delve into the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of these substances, and discover the social and cultural differences in their usage.
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