OPEN Foundation

Day: 7 November 2014

Synesthesias in the context of hallucinogen-induced persistent perception disorder following the use of lsd

November 7, 2014 / HPPD, LSD, Papers, Psychiatry, Psychology, Publications, Safety / By / ,

Abstract

The hallucinogen-induced persistent perception disorder (hppd) is a disturbing complication resulting from the use of hallucinogens. We report on a case-study in which an artist suffering from visual, auditory and olfactory hallucinations also experienced chromatic-phonemic synesthesias that had persisted for two years after he had stopped using lysergic acid diethylamide (lsd). The case described demonstrates that individuals suffering from hppd can also experience synesthesias that may in fact differ phenomenologically from ‘coloured hearing’, which is a symptom known to occur in the context of substance abuse.

Neven, A., & Blom, J. D. (2013). [Synesthesias in the context of hallucinogen-induced persistent perception disorder following the use of lsd]. Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie, 56(11), 748-752.
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Harmine mediated neuroprotection via evaluation of glutamate transporter 1 in a rat model of global cerebral ischemia.

November 7, 2014 / Neuroscience, Other substances, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By / , , ,

Abstract

Global cerebral ischemia (GCI) causes energy deficiency results in excessive release of glutamate from neurons. Astrocytic glutamate transporters play a predominant role in keeping extracellular glutamate concentrations below excitotoxic levels. Glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) may account for more than 90% of glutamate uptake in adult forebrain. Preclinical findings implicate that Harmine present neuroprotection effects in a rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease, and the beneficial effects were specifically due to up-regulation of GLT-1. However, no experiments have explored the potential of Harmine to provide neuroprotection in the setting of GCI. The current study was designed to determine whether Harmine could attenuate cerebral infarction as well as improve neuronal survival after GCI. Furthermore, to test whether the mechanisms were associated with up-regulating of GLT-1, we used a GLT-1 specific inhibitor dihydrokainate (DHK) and analysis the expression of GLT-1 mRNA and protein in cortex of brain. We also examined whether Harmine treatment affected astrocytes activation via immunofluorescence. Our results showed that post-GCI administration of Harmine could attenuate cerebral infarct volume and decrease neurons death. It also caused significantly elevation of GLT-1 mRNA and protein and remarkably attenuation of astrocyte activation. We provide novel clues in understanding the mechanisms of which Harmine exerts its neuroprotective activity in neurological disorders.

Sun, P., Zhang, S., Li, Y., & Wang, L. (2014). Harmine mediated neuroprotection via evaluation of glutamate transporter 1 in a rat model of global cerebral ischemia. Neuroscience letters, 583, 32-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2014.09.023
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Dictyonema huaorani (Agaricales: Hygrophoraceae), a new lichenized basidiomycete from Amazonian Ecuador with presumed hallucinogenic properties

November 7, 2014 / Chemistry, Ethnobotany, New substances, Other subjects, Other substances, Papers, Publications / By / , , , , ,

Abstract

Dictyonema huaorani, a new species represented by a well-developed specimen found in the Ecuadorian Amazon region, is described in this paper. The material was collected during a Harvard ethnobotanical expedition in 1981 and originally determined by Mason E. Hale Jr. as belonging in the genus Dictyonema (D. sericeum s.lat.) and possibly representing an undescribed species. The species is morphologically distinctive in forming densely woven, semicircular thalli, closely resembling those of the paleotropical D. ligulatum but lacking clamps and with hyphal sheath around the photobiont filaments that resembles those of Cyphellostereum species. The species was reported to have hallucinogenic properties and chemical analyses suggest certain substances present that are shared with the hallucinogenic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis. Due to our inability to use pure reference compounds and scarce amount of sample for compound identification, however, our analyses were not able to determine conclusively the presence of hallucinogenic substances.

Schmull, M., Dal-Forno, M., Lücking, R., Cao, S., Clardy, J., & Lawrey, J. D. (2014). Dictyonema huaorani (Agaricales: Hygrophoraceae), a new lichenized basidiomycete from Amazonian Ecuador with presumed hallucinogenic properties. The Bryologist, 117(4), 386-394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-117.4.386

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30 April - Q&A with Rick Strassman

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