A Comparison ofHallucinogens and

Dreaming

By Carly Birnbaum, Myles St. Jonn, Burcu Darst, Gilbert Francisco

COGS 175Spring 2007June 8, 2007

Outline

• Hallucinogens• DMT• Dreaming• Conclusion

History of Hallucinogens

• Hallucinogen – Derived from late Latin,

alucinari, meaning to wander in mind or talk idly

– Oldest hallucinogen Amanita muscaria, discovered by observing the behavior of intoxicated reindeer?

• Clearly reindeer found hallucinogens before man

– With the introduction of LSD to Europe and U.S. in 1949, era began with extremely potent agents

Definition

• Any agent that causes alterations in perception, cognition, and mood as its primary psychobiological actions in the presence of an otherwise clear sensorium

Behavioral EffectsLow Dose

• Hoffman, after ingesting small quantity of LSD– 4/16/1943– “…I was forced to interrupt my work

in the laboratory…being affected with a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness.”

• Perception intensified, rather than distorted

• Visual illusions, but no hallucinations

Behavioral EffectsHigh Dose

• 4/29/1943• Hoffman takes larger dose

– Unable to record experiences after 30 minutes

– Later describes terrifying journey home– Vision and time distortion– Despite bewilderment, exhibited clarity

of thought– Familiar objects appeared grotesque

and threatening

Pharmacological Effects and Theory

• LSD acts on both serotonin and dopamine receptors– 5-HT modulated mood, pain, perception,

personality and sexual activity– Hallucinogenic activity caused by LSD is

thought to be mediated by its effect of serotonin-2 receptors

– Acts post-synaptically to inhibit 5-HT release and increase retention of 5-HT at serotonin receptor sites

– 5-HT agonist

Effects are Subjective

• Stoll (1947) noted a much higher incidence of acute adverse effects in subjects who were unaware of its administration

• Slater el al. (1960) compared group with individual administration – Excess of euphoric responses vs. more anxiety,

hypomotility, speech disruption

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

• Endogenous hallucinogen• Serotonin agonist• Precursor: tryptophan• Believed to be produced by the

pineal gland

Effects of DMT

• High Dosage– Psychotic results

• Low Dosage– Calming

DMT Release

• DMT is released during psychedelic states– Near death

experiences– Death– Childbirth– Dreaming

DMT-TA Hypothesis

• Tracer Amines System– Receptor system

linked to emotional centers of body

• Endogenous DMT may counteract psychotic behavior

Lucid Dreaming

• “Having the courage to enjoy DMT visuals gives me more strength in the dream world to hold it intact. Once I can stabilize the 'stuff' dreams are made of, it seems as though I can experience whatever I can think of. I have found myself eating dream food and even tasting it.”

Dreaming

• During REM– Typically 4 periods– First stage

approximately 10 minutes

– Longer with each stage– Fourth and final stage

is longest • Usually what we

remember

Characteristics

• EEG readings– Irregular frequency– Low amplitude

• Motor neurons inhibited• Rapid eye movement (under closed eye

lids)• Irregular Breathing• Increased Heart Rate• Theta Rhythm

Why do we dream?

• Early hypothesis– Representation of our innermost

unconscious feelings (Freud)– “Activation Synthesis”

• Associations and memories from forebrain in response to random signals from brain stem (Hobson McCarley)

• Reverse learning• Neocortex overload• “We dream to forget” (Crick Mitchison)

More Recent Studies of Dreaming

• Memory processing, learning

• Evidence– Theta rhythm traced to

hippocampal regions

• Similar to waking state• Reprocessing of

information gathered while awake

• Suggests possible survival strategy

Conclusions

• Shared Neurochemical Properties• Barry L. Jacob’s “Dreams and Hallucinogens”

– Dreaming sleep and hallucinogenic experience both inhibit the 5-HT system

– Giving 5-HT during hallucinations decreases hallucinatory experience

– Giving 5-HT during sleep decreases REM time and dream report

– 5-HT system intimately tied in with visual system• Problems with 5-HT theory

– Why would 5-HT inactivation cause hallucinations?– Why does giving people more 5-HT stop depression?

Schizophrenia

• Characterized by auditory hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and delusions about reality

• Higher concentrations of DMT found in urine– Though small doses of DMT

had calming effect on Schizophrenics

• Newer treatments act on 5-HT2a receptors

Overall Brain Activity Similarities

• EEG effects of hallucinogens– Is it similar to the EEG readings for REM?

• No– REM dreaming characterized by irregular frequency

• Dreams exist in Non-REM sleep which have different EEG activity

– EEG for hallucinogenic drugs are their own distinct EEG signal

Dreams, Hallucinogens, and Consciousness: Speculations

• Localization of 5-HT2a receptor and dream-like hallucinations

• Daydreaming and Imagination

• Theory of mind

• Escape from Reality

• Planning

• Interpretation of Reality

References• Abraham, Henry D. et al., "The Psychopharmacology of Hallucinogens."

Neuropsychopharmacology, Vol. 14 No.4., 1996. • Winson, J. “The Meaning of Dreams.” Scientific American Special. Volume 12, Number 1, New

York, 2002: 54-61.• Nielsen, T. A. Stenstrom, P. “What are the memory sources of dreaming?” Nature. Volume 437,

October 2005: 1286-1289. • Michael S. Jacob, David E. Presti. “Endogenous psychoactive tryptamines reconsidered: an

anxiolytic role for dimethyltryptamine” Med Hypotheses. Volume 64, Number 5, 2004: 930-937. • Rick Strassman MD DMT: The Spirit Molecule • Jacobs, Barry. “Dreams and Hallucinogens: A Common Neurochemical Mechanism Mediating

Their Phenomonlogical Similarities.” Neuroscience Biobehavorial Review. Volume 2, Number 1, 1978: 59-68

• Fairchild, M.D. et al., "EEG Effects of Hallucinogens and Cannabinoids Using Sleep-Waking Behavior as Baseline." Pharmacology Biochemisty & Behavior. Vol. 2, pp.99-105. 12 July 1979.

• “Schizophrenia” www.wikipedia.org• Li, D. et al., “Association study of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene with schizophrenia and

suicidal behavior using systematic meta-analysis.” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Vol. 340, Number 2, Feb 17 2006: 1006-1015