Isotopic DMT as a Probe of Spin-Dependent Psychedelic Pharmacology
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) April 18, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18965900 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental protocol Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | N 15N on indole nitrogen) |
| Topics | DMT |
| Keywords | Kinetic isotope effect Deuterium Isotopomers Hyperfine structure Phenomenology philosophy Ligand biochemistry Falsifiability Stereochemistry Substitution logic Theoretical physics Kinetic energy Spins Consciousness |
| Key findings | Position-specific isotopic substitution of DMT at the 5-HT2A receptor can test for radical pair mechanism involvement via the magnetic isotope effect. |
Abstract
We propose a three-phase experimental protocol testing whether the radical pair mechanism (RPM) operates during N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-induced psychedelicstates at the 5-HT2A receptor. Position-specific isotopic substitution of the ligand (13C at C3a, 15N on indole nitrogen) modifies nuclear spin content without altering molecular geometry, receptor affinity, or metabolic half-life.Because the kinetic isotope effect is negligible for 13C (Δm = +8%, KIE < 1.04), any observed phenomenological change constitutes direct evidence for the magnetic isotope effect—and hence for RPM involvement—at the receptor. Structure-guided labelling (PDB: 9AS1), falsification criteria, and a ~$10,000 mouse HTR pilot are described. Version 2: removed speculative theoretical framework, muscled bibliography (46 refs), added quantitative feasibility bounds, integrated as part of a three-document research programme.