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A Comparison of Hallucinogens and Dreaming

A Comparison of Hallucinogens and Dreaming. By Carly Birnbaum, Myles St. Jonn, Burcu Darst, Gilbert Francisco COGS 175 Spring 2007 June 8, 2007. Outline. Hallucinogens DMT Dreaming Conclusion. History of Hallucinogens. Hallucinogen

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A Comparison of Hallucinogens and Dreaming

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  1. A Comparison ofHallucinogens and Dreaming By Carly Birnbaum, Myles St. Jonn, Burcu Darst, Gilbert Francisco COGS 175 Spring 2007 June 8, 2007

  2. Outline • Hallucinogens • DMT • Dreaming • Conclusion

  3. History of Hallucinogens • Hallucinogen • Derived from late Latin, alucinari, meaning to wander in mind or talk idly • Oldest hallucinogen Amanita muscaria, discovered by observing the behavior of intoxicated reindeer? • Clearly reindeer found hallucinogens before man • With the introduction of LSD to Europe and U.S. in 1949, era began with extremely potent agents

  4. Definition • Any agent that causes alterations in perception, cognition, and mood as its primary psychobiological actions in the presence of an otherwise clear sensorium

  5. Behavioral EffectsLow Dose • Hoffman, after ingesting small quantity of LSD • 4/16/1943 • “…I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory…being affected with a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness.” • Perception intensified, rather than distorted • Visual illusions, but no hallucinations

  6. Behavioral EffectsHigh Dose • 4/29/1943 • Hoffman takes larger dose • Unable to record experiences after 30 minutes • Later describes terrifying journey home • Vision and time distortion • Despite bewilderment, exhibited clarity of thought • Familiar objects appeared grotesque and threatening

  7. Pharmacological Effects and Theory • LSD acts on both serotonin and dopamine receptors • 5-HT modulated mood, pain, perception, personality and sexual activity • Hallucinogenic activity caused by LSD is thought to be mediated by its effect of serotonin-2 receptors • Acts post-synaptically to inhibit 5-HT release and increase retention of 5-HT at serotonin receptor sites • 5-HT agonist

  8. Effects are Subjective • Stoll (1947) noted a much higher incidence of acute adverse effects in subjects who were unaware of its administration • Slater el al. (1960) compared group with individual administration • Excess of euphoric responses vs. more anxiety, hypomotility, speech disruption

  9. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) • Endogenous hallucinogen • Serotonin agonist • Precursor: tryptophan • Believed to be produced by the pineal gland

  10. Effects of DMT • High Dosage • Psychotic results • Low Dosage • Calming

  11. DMT Release • DMT is released during psychedelic states • Near death experiences • Death • Childbirth • Dreaming

  12. DMT-TA Hypothesis • Tracer Amines System • Receptor system linked to emotional centers of body • Endogenous DMT may counteract psychotic behavior

  13. Lucid Dreaming • “Having the courage to enjoy DMT visuals gives me more strength in the dream world to hold it intact. Once I can stabilize the 'stuff' dreams are made of, it seems as though I can experience whatever I can think of. I have found myself eating dream food and even tasting it.”

  14. Dreaming • During REM • Typically 4 periods • First stage approximately 10 minutes • Longer with each stage • Fourth and final stage is longest • Usually what we remember

  15. Characteristics • EEG readings • Irregular frequency • Low amplitude • Motor neurons inhibited • Rapid eye movement (under closed eye lids) • Irregular Breathing • Increased Heart Rate • Theta Rhythm

  16. Why do we dream? • Early hypothesis • Representation of our innermost unconscious feelings (Freud) • “Activation Synthesis” • Associations and memories from forebrain in response to random signals from brain stem (Hobson McCarley) • Reverse learning • Neocortex overload • “We dream to forget” (Crick Mitchison)

  17. More Recent Studies of Dreaming • Memory processing, learning • Evidence • Theta rhythm traced to hippocampal regions • Similar to waking state • Reprocessing of information gathered while awake • Suggests possible survival strategy

  18. Conclusions • Shared Neurochemical Properties • Barry L. Jacob’s “Dreams and Hallucinogens” • Dreaming sleep and hallucinogenic experience both inhibit the 5-HT system • Giving 5-HT during hallucinations decreases hallucinatory experience • Giving 5-HT during sleep decreases REM time and dream report • 5-HT system intimately tied in with visual system • Problems with 5-HT theory • Why would 5-HT inactivation cause hallucinations? • Why does giving people more 5-HT stop depression?

  19. Schizophrenia • Characterized by auditory hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and delusions about reality • Higher concentrations of DMT found in urine • Though small doses of DMT had calming effect on Schizophrenics • Newer treatments act on 5-HT2a receptors

  20. Overall Brain Activity Similarities • EEG effects of hallucinogens • Is it similar to the EEG readings for REM? • No • REM dreaming characterized by irregular frequency • Dreams exist in Non-REM sleep which have different EEG activity • EEG for hallucinogenic drugs are their own distinct EEG signal

  21. Dreams, Hallucinogens, and Consciousness: Speculations • Localization of 5-HT2a receptor and dream-like hallucinations • Daydreaming and Imagination • Theory of mind • Escape from Reality • Planning • Interpretation of Reality

  22. References • Abraham, Henry D. et al., "The Psychopharmacology of Hallucinogens." Neuropsychopharmacology, Vol. 14 No.4., 1996. • Winson, J. “The Meaning of Dreams.” Scientific American Special. Volume 12, Number 1, New York, 2002: 54-61. • Nielsen, T. A. Stenstrom, P. “What are the memory sources of dreaming?” Nature. Volume 437, October 2005: 1286-1289. • Michael S. Jacob, David E. Presti. “Endogenous psychoactive tryptamines reconsidered: an anxiolytic role for dimethyltryptamine” Med Hypotheses. Volume 64, Number 5, 2004: 930-937. • Rick Strassman MD DMT: The Spirit Molecule • Jacobs, Barry. “Dreams and Hallucinogens: A Common Neurochemical Mechanism Mediating Their Phenomonlogical Similarities.” Neuroscience Biobehavorial Review. Volume 2, Number 1, 1978: 59-68 • Fairchild, M.D. et al., "EEG Effects of Hallucinogens and Cannabinoids Using Sleep-Waking Behavior as Baseline." Pharmacology Biochemisty & Behavior. Vol. 2, pp.99-105. 12 July 1979. • “Schizophrenia” www.wikipedia.org • Li, D. et al., “Association study of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene with schizophrenia and suicidal behavior using systematic meta-analysis.”Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Vol. 340, Number 2, Feb 17 2006: 1006-1015

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