The impact of psilocybin on visual perception and spatial orientation – neuropsychological approach
Journal Title: Psychiatria Polska - Year 2013, Vol 47, Issue 6
Abstract
Psilocybin is a substance of natural origin, occurring in hallucinogenic mushrooms (most common in the Psilocybe family). After its synthesis in 1958 research began on its psychoactive properties, particularly strong effects on visual perception and spatial orientation. Due to the very broad spectrum of psilocybin effects research began on the different ranges of its actions – including the effect on physiological processes (such as eye saccada movements). Neuro-imaging and neurophysiological research (positron emission tomography - PET and electroencephalography - EEG), indicate a change in the rate of metabolism of the brain and desync cerebral hemispheres. Experimental studies show the changes in visual perception and distortion from psilocybin in the handwriting style of patients examined. There are widely described subjective experiences reported by the subjects. There are also efforts to apply testing via questionnaire on people under the influence of psilocybin, in the context of the similarity of psilocybin-induced state to the initial stages of schizophrenia, as well as research aimed at creating an ‘artificial’ model of the disease.
Authors and Affiliations
Mikołaj Jastrzębski, Aleksandra Bala
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP120888
- DOI -
- Views 117
- Downloads 0
Depresja czy apatia? Pułapki diagnostyczne: olbrzymi oponiak prawego płata czołowego rozpoznany i leczony jako epizod depresji umiarkowanej atypowej – opis przypadku
Neurobehawioralne zmiany obserwowane u pacjentów z guzami mózgu mogą pojawić się jako deficyty poznawcze, zakłócenia nastroju, zmiany zachowania lub zmniejszone zdolności adaptacyjne (np. nadmierna senność, apatia, utrat...
Friends of virtual Ana – the phenomenon of pro-anorexia in the Internet
Summary Anorexia nervosa is regarded as a serious mental disturbance, where denial of illness and strong resistance to treatment are symptomatic features. In many cases it leads to extreme devastation or even to death....
Ocena zależności pomiędzy funkcjonowaniem poznawczym osób z osobowością chwiejną emocjonalnie typu borderline a ich ogólnym poziomem funkcjonowania
Cel pracy Celem pracy było badanie zależności pomiędzy funkcjonowaniem poznawczym osób z osobowością chwiejną emocjonalnie typ borderline, a ich ogólnym poziomem funkcjonowania oraz nasileniem psychopatologii swoistej dl...
Childhood sexual traumatic events and sexual life and relationship of a patient
Aim: The assessment of links between traumatic events of sexual nature recollected from the past and patients’ later functioning insexual life and relationships. Materials and methods: Comorbidity of memories of traumati...
Diagnostic imaging of lying
Functional diagnostic imaging has been applied in neuropsychology for more than two decades. Nowadays, the functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) seems to be the most important technique. Brain imaging in lying has been pe...