The induction of synaesthesia with chemical agents: a systematic review
Frontiers in Psychology 2013 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00753 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Keywords | Neurochemical Cognitive psychology |
| Citations | 81 |
| Key findings | Serotonin agonists consistently elicit transient experiences of synaesthesia across studies, but methodological limitations preclude firm conclusions about whether chemical agents can induce genuine synaesthesia. |
Abstract
Despite the general consensus that synaesthesia emerges at an early developmental stage and is only rarely acquired during adulthood, the transient induction of synaesthesia with chemical agents has been frequently reported in research on different psychoactive substances. Nevertheless, these effects remain poorly understood and have not been systematically incorporated. Here we review the known published studies in which chemical agents were observed to elicit synaesthesia. Across studies there is consistent evidence that serotonin agonists elicit transient experiences of synaesthesia. Despite convergent results across studies, studies investigating the induction of synaesthesia with chemical agents have numerous methodological limitations and little experimental research has been conducted. Cumulatively, these studies implicate the serotonergic system in synaesthesia and have implications for the neurochemical mechanisms underlying this phenomenon but methodological limitations in this research area preclude making firm conclusions regarding whether chemical agents can induce genuine synaesthesia.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on serotonin, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 28
- A predictive processing theory of sensorimotor contingencies: Explaining the puzzle of perceptual presence and its absence in synesthesia Cognitive Neuroscience January 21, 2014
- The effects of psilocybin and MDMA on between-network resting state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers Frontiers in Human Neuroscience May 27, 2014
- Psilocybin acutely alters the functional connectivity of the claustrum with brain networks that support perception, memory, and attention. Neuroimage September 1, 2020
- Unifying Theories of Psychedelic Drug Effects Frontiers in Pharmacology March 2, 2018
- Hallucinations Under Psychedelics and in the Schizophrenia Spectrum: An Interdisciplinary and Multiscale Comparison Schizophrenia Bulletin August 5, 2020
and 23 more in the library
Cites 17
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
- Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies Journal of Psychopharmacology September 20, 2010
- Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers PLoS One February 17, 2012
- Effects of the South American Psychoactive Beverage Ayahuasca on Regional Brain Electrical Activity in Humans: A Functional Neuroimaging Study Using Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography Neuropsychobiology 2004
and 12 more in the library