http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/psychedelic_drugs/ Medical research on LSD and related psychedelic drugs. From mystical experiences induced by "sacred mushrooms" to the potential use of LSD to treat alcoholism, read it all here. en-us Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:05:01 EST Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/psychedelic_drugs/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090303084044.htm New research outlines the extent of drug use in New Zealand, and when people first begin using drugs for non-medical purposes. The data comes from an analysis of over 12,000 interviews of people aged 16 or over carried out by the New Zealand Mental Health Survey (2003/2004), in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090303084044.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090212141158.htm A hallucinogenic compound found in a plant indigenous to South America and used in shamanic rituals regulates a mysterious protein that is abundant throughout the body, researchers have discovered. Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090212141158.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080911142419.htm For years, audiences have been thrilled by the amazing performances of master magicians, such as David Blaine and Derren Brown. Now, the results of a new experiment suggests that such magical feats can also work wonders with children’s confidence and social skills. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080911142419.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701083522.htm In a follow-up to research showing that psilocybin, a substance contained in "sacred mushrooms," produces substantial spiritual effects, scientists report that those beneficial effects appear to last more than a year. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701083522.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080520110415.htm Burning frankincense (resin from the Boswellia plant) activates poorly understood ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression. This suggests that an entirely new class of depression and anxiety drugs might be right under our noses. Tue, 20 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080520110415.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080429120905.htm A new study may end the century-old controversy over what ingredient in absinthe caused the exotic green aperitif's supposed mind-altering effects and toxic side-effects when consumed to excess. The report is the most comprehensive analysis of authentic 19th century absinthe to date. Sun, 04 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080429120905.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428120701.htm Brain-imaging studies performed in animals provide researchers with clues about why an increasingly popular recreational drug that causes hallucinations and motor-function impairment in humans is abused. Using trace amounts of Salvia divinorum -- also known as "salvia," a Mexican mint plant -- scientists found that the drug's behavior in the brains of primates mimics the extremely fast and brief "high" observed in humans. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428120701.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226193113.htm Researchers have identified a new receptor complex in the brain that responds to several types of antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia and also reacts to hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD. The receptor complex could help provide new treatments for schizophrenia and other diseases associated with psychosis. Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226193113.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080112181400.htm A new study reveals more than 3 million adolescents and young adults have used non-prescription cough and cold medicines to get high at least once in their lifetimes. The level is comparable to LSD, and more than the reported use of methamphetamines, among those aged 12 to 25. White youths were more than three times as likely as Black youths to have misused these drugs during the past year. Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080112181400.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080101093900.htm Drugs that treat depression and schizophrenia might not be triggering the most appropriate response in brain cells, new research suggests. This study examined the early chemical events that happen when a particular serotonin receptor on brain cells is stimulated by serotonin and by a hallucinogenic agent thought to mimic serotonin. The findings show that although both compounds activate this receptor, they trigger different chemical pathways inside the cell. Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080101093900.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112172158.htm Scientists have identified genes that produce the poison of the death cap mushroom -- a unique pathway previously unknown in fungi. Reported in today's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The work not only solves a mystery of how some mushrooms make the toxin -- but also sheds light on the underlying biochemical machinery. It might be possible one day to harness the mushroom genes to make novel chemicals that would be useful as new drugs. Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112172158.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024143613.htm People believe in magic for all sorts of reasons including a deep-seated human desire for equality, according to one professor. Halloween is a time for children to dress up as witches, ghouls and goblins, but historically witchcraft was serious business. Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024143613.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071006084704.htm Copper helps move telecommunications signals across phone wires, allowing people to talk to one another across long distances. Tiny amounts of copper, within certain enzymes in the brain, also help form key neurotransmitters that allow brain cells to "talk" to one another. Scientists now have described how adequate amounts of copper are important to brain function. Their animal model studies suggest that levels of copper intake are critical to the fetus during pregnancy -- a concept called "nutritional programming." Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071006084704.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070502172217.htm A Cornell researcher has found that people who had been exposed to prenatal toxins and develop later-life diseases have in common an imbalanced immune system and hyperinflammatory responses. Thu, 03 May 2007 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070502172217.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070323105029.htm A new study proposes that drugs should be classified by the amount of harm that they do. The new ranking places alcohol and tobacco in the upper half of the league table. These socially accepted drugs were judged more harmful than cannabis, and substantially more dangerous than the Class A drugs LSD and ecstasy. Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070323105029.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070302082810.htm Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered why some individuals may be predisposed to drug addiction and believe it may lead to better treatments for this brain disorder. Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070302082810.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070131135536.htm The brain mechanism underlying the mind-bending effects of hallucinogens such as LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin has been discovered by neuroscientists. They said their discoveries not only shed light on the longtime mystery of how hallucinogens work, but that the findings also offer a pathway to understanding the function of drugs used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders, which are now being used largely without an understanding of their fundamental mechanism. Fri, 02 Feb 2007 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070131135536.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061128084458.htm Researchers have discovered that even a small amount of MDMA, better known as ecstasy, can be harmful to the brain, according to the first study to look at the neurotoxic effects of low doses of the recreational drug in new ecstasy users. The findings were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061128084458.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061007111350.htm For the past five years, Dr. Erika Dyck has been unearthing some intriguing facts related to a group of pioneering psychiatrists who worked in Saskatchewan, Canada in the '50s and '60s. Among other things, the University of Alberta history of medicine professor has found records of the psychiatrists' research that indicate a single dose of the hallucinogenic drug LSD can be an effective treatment for alcoholism. Her findings are published this month in the journal Social History of Medicine. Mon, 09 Oct 2006 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061007111350.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060711084914.htm Using unusually rigorous scientific conditions and measures, Johns Hopkins researchers have shown that the active agent in "sacred mushrooms" can induce mystical/spiritual experiences descriptively identical to spontaneous ones people have reported for centuries. Tue, 11 Jul 2006 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060711084914.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060705172034.htm Researchers have found that genetic factors may play an important role in a person's use, misuse or dependence of illicit drugs like marijuana, stimulants, opiates, cocaine and psychedelics. Wed, 05 Jul 2006 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060705172034.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050901073759.htm It was the drug of choice on university campuses, the drug that spawned psychedelic culture as well as countless jail sentences and fines, but LSD actually has respectable roots -- roots that a McMaster University researcher is uncovering. "Far from being fringe medical research, trials of LSD were once a legitimate branch of psychiatric research," explains Erika Dyck, a doctoral researcher in the Department of History at McMaster. Thu, 01 Sep 2005 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050901073759.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050718005942.htm Physicians might one day be able to treat a disease that destroys brain cells in children using genetically modified cells to transport a "drug" to the site of the dying neural cells (cells that transmit impulses). This discovery occurred based on results of a laboratory study of the technique published by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. A report on this work appears in the prepublication online issue of Blood. Mon, 18 Jul 2005 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050718005942.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050121110300.htm A naturally occurring hallucinogen advocated by some clinicians as a potent anti-addiction drug has been rigorously studied for the first time, confirming its ability to block alcohol craving in rodents, and clarifying how it works in the brain. Sun, 23 Jan 2005 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050121110300.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/11/031121072123.htm A mouse study reported in this week's Science magazine shows that three drugs, each acting on a different chemical transmitter in the brain, all produce the same schizophrenia-like symptoms by acting on a single "master molecule" in the brain. Mon, 24 Nov 2003 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/11/031121072123.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/11/001120073323.htm The trauma that a majority of drug addicts suffer in early life has now been shown to increase their vulnerability to drug addiction, Yale researchers report in a new study. Tue, 21 Nov 2000 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/11/001120073323.htm