Forest Cottage

How does LSD work

added by liti689

How does LSD work LSD, like most psychedelics in the tryptamine or phenethylamine classes, is a serotonin receptor agonist. An agonist is a substance that binds to a cell (in this case a neuron) and triggers a response (in this case the release of neurotransmitters). Serotonin Holden(chemical name 5-Hydroxytryptamine, or just 5-HT) is one of the human brain primary neurotransmitters. There are a variety of serotonin receptor systems in the brain. LSD acts primarily upon the 5-HT2A receptor system [1]. Part of this system is located in the frontal lobe, which is one of the key parts of the brain involved in high-level cognitive function, including the incorporation of sensory input and mediation of the delineations between self and external. LSD enters the bloodstreamLSD passes through the blood-brain-barrier (BBB)LSD starts binding to serotonin receptors (instead of just the serotonin that would normally be binding to them)This triggers new patterns of ne Replica Jaeger Lecoultre Watches urotransmission The two primary effects you mention (visual hallucinations, sense of connection to the universe) are generally believed to be consequences of the modified patterns of serotonin release. Outside visual stimulus doesn get processed in the same way, allowing other systems in the brain to influence your experience of visual perception. At the same time, because you not processing external input in the same way, your brain stops doing such a good job of effectively differentiating between your self and the surrounding world. As far as I aware, the exact mechanics of these processes are not all that well-understood beyond identification of the 5-HT2A system as the primary point of influence. [As an interesting aside, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor describes experiencing very similar effects during and after a massive stroke in her left hemisphere. She describes experiencing her self as a wave instead of a particle. The brain then tries to make sense of this creating explanations. Recent research into mushrooms in the UK has shown they actually shut down parts of the brain this may cause the brain to creative For example identifying that an electrical impulse in the brain represents a colour or a smell is a learned skill and the brain can get confused and mix signals up. Nobody is sure how LSD works, but there are a number of scientific theories which attempt to answer the question. The currently best accepted theory is by Dr. David Nichols, a professor at Purdue University. Nichols believe that there is a unique receptor in the brain which LSD and related drugs interact with. Small amounts of LSD or drugs in the LSD family cross the "blood-brain" barrier after ingested. From there, they interface with receptors in the brain like three dimensional keys trying to fit a lock. There are a limited number of these receptors in the brain. The more of these that are successfully interacted with at any given time are related to the intensity of the triggered personal experience. But remember that this just a theory and has replace other quite different theories that came before it was developed. Theories are best guesses based on observations and planned experimental studies. It should also be noted that humans really do not understand the relationship between physical things, which are shared between people and private experiences called mind or mental. There appears to be some relationship between them but the precise mechanisms remain largely unknown.