Psilocybin and ConsciousnessPsilocybin and Consciousness

Andy Alexander, Zane AndreAndy Alexander, Zane AndreAlbert Anaya, Dan LotzAlbert Anaya, Dan Lotz

COGS175COGS175Dr. PinedaDr. Pineda

March 12, 2008March 12, 2008

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Introduction and History of use Introduction and History of use (Dan)(Dan)

Chemical properties and physiological Chemical properties and physiological mechanisms mechanisms (Dan and Zane)(Dan and Zane)

Alternate State of Consciousness Alternate State of Consciousness (Albert)(Albert)

Sensory Effects and Sustained RevelationsSensory Effects and Sustained Revelations (Andy)(Andy)

ConclusionConclusion (everyone) (everyone)

History of Magic MushroomsHistory of Magic Mushrooms

First documented use found in cave First documented use found in cave paintings depicting the shamanic use of paintings depicting the shamanic use of mushrooms in what is now North Africamushrooms in what is now North Africa

Mayan and Aztecs relics have also been Mayan and Aztecs relics have also been found depicting the ritual use of found depicting the ritual use of hallucinogenic mushrooms hallucinogenic mushrooms

In the Aztec culture these mushrooms In the Aztec culture these mushrooms were known as were known as teonanácatlteonanácatl or God’s flesh or God’s flesh

Psilocybin Psilocybin

Psilocybin is the Psilocybin is the psychoactive psychoactive component of component of mushroomsmushrooms

Classified in the Classified in the tryptamine family tryptamine family because of the indole because of the indole ringring

Other tryptamines; Other tryptamines; DMT, Melatonin, DMT, Melatonin, Serotonin, tryptophan Serotonin, tryptophan and LSD-25and LSD-25

Psilocybin continued…Psilocybin continued…

Psilocybin is converted to the Psilocybin is converted to the psychoactive metabolite Psilocin.psychoactive metabolite Psilocin.

Psilocin is a partial agonist at the 5-HTPsilocin is a partial agonist at the 5-HT2A2A

serotonin receptor in the brain serotonin receptor in the brain Psilocin is also an agonist 5-HTPsilocin is also an agonist 5-HT1A1A and 5- and 5-

HTHT2C2C receptors receptors

Psilocybin

dephosphorilization

Psilocin

Other Psychoactive CompoundsOther Psychoactive Compounds

Two other psychoactive chemicals are present in many species of Two other psychoactive chemicals are present in many species of psilocybe-containing mushrooms: Baeocystin and Norbaeocystin.psilocybe-containing mushrooms: Baeocystin and Norbaeocystin.

It is important to note that while these are minor compounds to It is important to note that while these are minor compounds to Psilocin, a dosage as little as 10mg is reported to elucidate effectsPsilocin, a dosage as little as 10mg is reported to elucidate effects

These chemicals have not been the subject of any major research, These chemicals have not been the subject of any major research, and consequently no detailed information is available on them.and consequently no detailed information is available on them.

It is known, however, that they are also It is known, however, that they are also

Baeocystin Norbaeocystin

Indole RingIndole Ring The indole ring is chemically known as a benzene ring fused to a nitrogen-The indole ring is chemically known as a benzene ring fused to a nitrogen-

containing pyrrole ring, and can contain be found in many aromatic containing pyrrole ring, and can contain be found in many aromatic compounds, such as orange blossom scent.compounds, such as orange blossom scent.

The indole ring makes up the primary structure of serotonin and tryptophan, The indole ring makes up the primary structure of serotonin and tryptophan, and is also found in LSD, DMT, Psilocybin, Psilocin, Baeocystin, and is also found in LSD, DMT, Psilocybin, Psilocin, Baeocystin, Norbaeocystin and many other hallucinogenic compounds.Norbaeocystin and many other hallucinogenic compounds.

It is theorized that the binding mechanism of these type of psychoactive It is theorized that the binding mechanism of these type of psychoactive compounds is based on this chemical shape fitting the ‘keyhole’ of specific compounds is based on this chemical shape fitting the ‘keyhole’ of specific serotonin receptors.serotonin receptors.

Because they are not chemically identical to serotonin, they have manifest Because they are not chemically identical to serotonin, they have manifest varied effects, particularly at the 5-HTvaried effects, particularly at the 5-HT2A receptor.2A receptor.

Indole Configurations

Psilocin and Altered StatePsilocin and Altered State

Corticol-thalamic pathway modulationCorticol-thalamic pathway modulation HyperfrontalityHyperfrontality

Psilocin and Altered State (cont.)Psilocin and Altered State (cont.)

Decrease in alpha and increase in beta in Decrease in alpha and increase in beta in the neocortexthe neocortex

Prepulse InhibitionPrepulse Inhibition

Psilocin and Altered State (cont.)Psilocin and Altered State (cont.)Comparison between Dietrich and Comparison between Dietrich and VollenweiderVollenweider

•Study between drug-induced ASC and placebo

•Same cortical-subcortical organization

•Frontal-parietal, temporal, and occipital cortex, striatum, and thalamus

•Frontal-parietal and striatal network

General EffectsGeneral Effects

Duration (orally ingested)Duration (orally ingested) Total duration: ~4-7hrsTotal duration: ~4-7hrs Onset: 15-60minOnset: 15-60min Plateu: 2Plateu: 2ndnd to 4 to 4thth hours hours

After effects:After effects: HeadacheHeadache In general, no physiological hangover/ day after In general, no physiological hangover/ day after

effectseffects

Sensory Effects:Sensory Effects:

Visual Hallucinations (VUS subscale)Visual Hallucinations (VUS subscale)– Visionary restructuralizationVisionary restructuralization

Illusions/ hallucinationsIllusions/ hallucinations

synaesthetic phenomenasynaesthetic phenomena

Enhancement of perceptsEnhancement of percepts– Contour distortionContour distortion– Increased sensitivity to lightIncreased sensitivity to light– Closed eye visualsClosed eye visuals

Auditory hallucinationsAuditory hallucinations

Alterations in perception of time and spaceAlterations in perception of time and space

Sensation of buzzing in the peripheral limbsSensation of buzzing in the peripheral limbs

Recollective/ analytical stageRecollective/ analytical stage

Attribution of salience to random objects/ eventsAttribution of salience to random objects/ events

Affective StatesAffective States

Increases in:Increases in:– Oceanic Boundlessness ScaleOceanic Boundlessness Scale

Measures derealization and depersonalization Measures derealization and depersonalization phenomenaphenomena

Associated with a basic positive mood stateAssociated with a basic positive mood state– Heightened feelings to sublime happiness (euphoria)Heightened feelings to sublime happiness (euphoria)– GrandiosityGrandiosity– Alterations in sense of time and spaceAlterations in sense of time and space– Giggling, giddiness, increased emotional sensitivity, Giggling, giddiness, increased emotional sensitivity,

sleepinesssleepiness

Affective states…Affective states…

Increase in:Increase in:– AIA scale (dread of ego-dissolution)AIA scale (dread of ego-dissolution)– ““Measures thought disorder, anxious ego-Measures thought disorder, anxious ego-

disintegration, loss of control over body and thought, disintegration, loss of control over body and thought, and derealization phenomena associated with arousal and derealization phenomena associated with arousal and anxiety.”and anxiety.”

Comprises: intense feelings of fear, nausea, mild to severe Comprises: intense feelings of fear, nausea, mild to severe anxiety, confusion, can precipitate or exacerbate existing anxiety, confusion, can precipitate or exacerbate existing mental disorders (i.e. schizophrenia), working memory mental disorders (i.e. schizophrenia), working memory disruptiondisruption

– Similarities between Similarities between psilocybin-induced psychosis psilocybin-induced psychosis and early stages/ mild schizophreniaand early stages/ mild schizophrenia……

Psilocybin-induced psychosis provides clues as Psilocybin-induced psychosis provides clues as to the physiological mechanisms of to the physiological mechanisms of

SchizophreniaSchizophrenia““Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action” humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action” Vollenweider et al. 1998Vollenweider et al. 1998

– Administered psilocybin to three groups who were pre-treated with Administered psilocybin to three groups who were pre-treated with

5-HT2 antagonist ketanserin, 5-HT/ D2 antagonist risperidone, or D2 5-HT2 antagonist ketanserin, 5-HT/ D2 antagonist risperidone, or D2 antagonist haloperidolantagonist haloperidol

Results: Results: – Pre-treatment with either ketanserin or risperidone dose-dependently Pre-treatment with either ketanserin or risperidone dose-dependently

blocked psilocybin-induced psychosis on APZ-OAV scaleblocked psilocybin-induced psychosis on APZ-OAV scale– Pre-treatment with haloperidol only reduced the effect of psilocybin on the Pre-treatment with haloperidol only reduced the effect of psilocybin on the

OSE subscale, no influence on psilocybin-induced visual hallucinationsOSE subscale, no influence on psilocybin-induced visual hallucinationsHaloperidol uniformly increased the AIA scores in all of the subjects treated with Haloperidol uniformly increased the AIA scores in all of the subjects treated with psilocybinpsilocybin

– Also found that Psilocybin increased the RT on memory-guided delayed Also found that Psilocybin increased the RT on memory-guided delayed response task during peak effects of drug (evidence of impairment of response task during peak effects of drug (evidence of impairment of working memory)working memory)

Analytical/ Recollective Stage, Mysticism Analytical/ Recollective Stage, Mysticism and Sustained Revelationsand Sustained Revelations

the Good Friday Experiment, Pahnke 1963the Good Friday Experiment, Pahnke 1963 Theological seminary students received either 30mg psilocybin or 200 Theological seminary students received either 30mg psilocybin or 200

mg of nicotinic acid in a group setting during a religious servicemg of nicotinic acid in a group setting during a religious service Participants who received psilocybin showed significant elevations on Participants who received psilocybin showed significant elevations on

the Pahnke Mystical Experience Questionairethe Pahnke Mystical Experience Questionaire Reported positive changes in attitudes and behavior at 6-months and at Reported positive changes in attitudes and behavior at 6-months and at

a 25-year follow upa 25-year follow up

Analytical/ Recollective Stage, Mysticism and Analytical/ Recollective Stage, Mysticism and Sustained RevelationsSustained Revelations

““Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance” R.R. Griffiths, 2006significance” R.R. Griffiths, 2006

2006. administered psilocybin or methylphenidate in double blind study to 2006. administered psilocybin or methylphenidate in double blind study to 36 adults in a personalized, comfortable setting.36 adults in a personalized, comfortable setting.

Subjects told to focus on spirituality, "look-within," strive for mystical Subjects told to focus on spirituality, "look-within," strive for mystical experienceexperience

67% of the volunteers rated the experience with psilocybin to be either the 67% of the volunteers rated the experience with psilocybin to be either the single most meaningful experience of his or her life or within the top 5 most single most meaningful experience of his or her life or within the top 5 most meaningful experiencesmeaningful experiences

Sustained revelationsSustained revelations

Continued…Continued…

Evidence of sustained revelations:Evidence of sustained revelations:

-family and close friends reported noticeably positive -family and close friends reported noticeably positive behavior and attitudes on subjects up to 2 months post-behavior and attitudes on subjects up to 2 months post-experienceexperience

- longer follow up is in progress- longer follow up is in progress

ConclusionConclusion

Frontal-parietal activation might be where Frontal-parietal activation might be where conscious is altered. conscious is altered.

Capacity for sustained alterations of Capacity for sustained alterations of consciousness sets psilocybin consciousness sets psilocybin experiences apart from other experiences apart from other hallucinogenshallucinogens

More YouTube More YouTube

http://youtube.com/watch?http://youtube.com/watch?v=B4pIxnuUG1k&feature=relatedv=B4pIxnuUG1k&feature=related

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