Activity

http://www.nature.com/news/brain-scans-reveal-how-lsd-affects-consciousness-1.19727?WT.mc_id=FBK_NA_1604_NEWSLSDSCANS_PORTFOLIO

The implications that can be drawn from this study on LSD’s neurological effects are particularly significant to what we discuss here. I’ve included the salient parts of the conclusion below. I’ll withhold commentary simply because the darker motives will be readily apparent to members of this site. Basically this study amounts to, how can altered meaning be controlled and how can they effect a dissolution of the self in the population at large.

“Thus, in the same way the neurobiology of psychedelic-induced visual hallucinations can inform on the neurobiology of visual processing, so the neurobiology of psychedelic-induced ego-dissolution can inform on the neurobiology of the “self” or “ego” (37), and the present results extend our understanding in this regard, implying that the preservation of DMN integrity, PH-RSC communication, and regular oscillatory rhythms within the PCC may be important for the maintenance of one’s sense of self or ego.”

“Similarities between aspects of psychosis and the psychedelic state have long been debated, and one of the most influential hypotheses on the neurobiology of schizophrenia proposes a functional disconnect between certain brain structures in the disorder (39).”

“Cortical alpha has been hypothesized to serve a general inhibitory function, filtering out “stimulus-irrelevant” information (34). Thus, reduced alpha power (9, 29, 35) could have disinhibitory consequences, …Further work, using higher-resolution brain imaging, machine learning techniques, dynamic measures of functional and effective connectivity, and improved “capture” of visual hallucinations (e.g., via button press or experience sampling), may help to develop this appealing model (e.g., see ref. 36).”

“Linking these results to pathology, an especially strong relationship was found between PH-RSC decoupling and the “altered meaning” factor on the ASC. Interestingly, altered activity within the PH-RSC circuit under psilocybin has previously been found to correlate with the spiritual experience and insightfulness dimensions of the 11-factor ASC (10), and altered RSC/PCC activity has been found to correlate with ego-dissolution (9), suggesting modulation of this particular circuit may be an important feature of especially profound psychedelic experiences. The altered meaning factor of the ASC is composed of items such as “some unimportant things acquired a special meaning” and “things in my surroundings had a new or alien meaning” that are phenomenologically resonant with the notion of “aberrant salience” in schizophrenia research (38). Impaired reality testing as a corollary of impaired ego functioning may explain an association between ego-dissolution and altered meaning. Similarities between aspects of psychosis and the psychedelic state have long been debated, and one of the most influential hypotheses on the neurobiology of schizophrenia proposes a functional disconnect between certain brain structures in the disorder (39). In this context, it is intriguing to consider whether the PH-RSC circuit is involved in certain psychosis-related experiences (e.g., refs. 40 and 41). More specifically, it would be interesting to examine the integrity of the PH-RSC connection in cases of endogenous psychoses in which phenomena such as altered meaning, ego-dissolution, and/or impaired reality-testing are observed.”

“When the present results are considered in relation to previous human neuroimaging studies with psychedelics, some general principles emerge. It seems increasingly evident that psychedelics reduce the stability and integrity of well-established brain networks (e.g., ref. 16) and simultaneously reduce the degree of separateness or segregation between them (e.g., ref. 42); that is, they induce network disintegration and desegregation. Importantly, these effects are consistent with the more general principle that cortical brain activity becomes more “entropic” under psychedelics (17). Furthermore, with the benefit of the present study’s multimodal imaging design, we can extend on these generic insights to postulate some more specific physiological properties of the psychedelic state and how these relate to some of its key psychological properties; namely, expanded V1 RSFC relates to the magnitude of visual hallucinations and decoupling of the PH-RSC circuit relates to the level of ego-dissolution, and perhaps also the profundity of a psychedelic experience more generally (also see refs. 9 and 10 in this regard).”