Post on 21-Dec-2015
A Comparison ofHallucinogens and
Dreaming
By Carly Birnbaum, Myles St. Jonn, Burcu Darst, Gilbert Francisco
COGS 175Spring 2007June 8, 2007
Outline
• Hallucinogens• DMT• Dreaming• Conclusion
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
Definition
• Any agent that causes alterations in perception, cognition, and mood as its primary psychobiological actions in the presence of an otherwise clear sensorium
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
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
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
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
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
• Endogenous hallucinogen• Serotonin agonist• Precursor: tryptophan• Believed to be produced by the
pineal gland
Effects of DMT
• High Dosage– Psychotic results
• Low Dosage– Calming
DMT Release
• DMT is released during psychedelic states– Near death
experiences– Death– Childbirth– Dreaming
DMT-TA Hypothesis
• Tracer Amines System– Receptor system
linked to emotional centers of body
• Endogenous DMT may counteract psychotic behavior
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.”
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
Characteristics
• EEG readings– Irregular frequency– Low amplitude
• Motor neurons inhibited• Rapid eye movement (under closed eye
lids)• Irregular Breathing• Increased Heart Rate• Theta Rhythm
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)
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
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?
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
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
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
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