The mechanism of hallucinations caused by lysergic acid diethylamide
Chaoyi Fan, Jiayi Li, Shaohuan Yu
MedScien June 6, 2024 DOI: 10.61173/djr26b21 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | LSD |
| Key findings | LSD's hallucinogenic effects are primarily mediated by activation of 5-HT2A receptors, and understanding this mechanism may link hallucinations to perceptual disorders and inform new treatments. |
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a semi-synthetic hallucinogen that induces intense hallucinogenic effects. There are various ways that hallucinations can occur, but classic psychedelics like LSD differ significantly in their effects from those caused by other means. The primary focus of current research is on activating 5-HT2A receptors within the serotonin system, which is essential for causing hallucinations and related behavioral responses in humans. In addition, through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), people can clearly observe the changes in cerebral blood flow influenced by LSD. This research presents the mechanism behind LSD’s hallucinatory effects from perspectives such as molecular biology and neuroanatomy spanning nearly half a century. As the understanding of its mechanism deepens, it can link the hallucinations caused by LSD to perceptual disorders and other diseases in humans, thus identifying more treatment methods. The analysis of the hallucination mechanism can also be beneficial for developing new treatment methods and understanding the specific physiological changes caused by drugs in hallucinations.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study of a New Schizophrenomimetic Drug—Sernyl | 1959 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review | 2008 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| ADVERSE REACTIONS TO PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE | 1984 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences April 11, 2016
- The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics November 11, 2008
- Changes in global and thalamic brain connectivity in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness are attributable to the 5-HT2A receptor Elife October 25, 2018
- Hallucinogens and Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor-Mediated Signaling Pathways Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences 2017
- d-Lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and other classic hallucinogens: Mechanism of action and potential therapeutic applications in mood disorders. Progress in Brain Research 2018
and 2 more in the library