Disrupted integration of sensory stimuli with information about the movement of the body as a mechanism explaining LSD-induced experience.
Grzegorz R Juszczak
Medical Hypotheses March 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.01.022 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | LSD |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Proposes that LSD-induced stimulation of 5-HT2a receptors disrupts integration of sensory stimuli with body-movement information, causing illusory movement perceptions. |
Abstract
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a model psychedelic drug used to study mechanism underlying the effects induced by hallucinogens. However, despite advanced knowledge about molecular mechanism responsible for the effects induced by LSD and other related substances acting at serotonergic 5-HT2a receptors, we still do not understand how these drugs trigger specific sensory experiences. LSD-induced experience is characterised by perception of movement in the environment and by presence of various bodily sensations such as floating in space, merging into surroundings and movement out of the physical body (the out-of-body experience). It means that a large part of the experience induced by the LSD can be simplified to the illusory movement that can be attributed to the self or to external objects. The phenomenology of the LSD-induced experience has been combined with the fact that serotonergic neurons provide all major parts of the brain with information about the level of tonic motor activity, occurrence of external stimuli and the execution of orienting responses. Therefore, it has been proposed that LSD-induced stimulation of 5-HT2a receptors disrupts the integration of the sensory stimuli with information about the movement of the body leading to perception of illusory movement.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Experimental Use of Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy | 1970 | Historical analysis | |
| LSD: My Problem Child | 1981 | Historical analysis | |
| On the Use and Abuse of LSD | 1968 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Use of Music in Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy | 1972 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Flashbacks: Recurrent Intrusive Images After the Use of LSD | 1969 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- The Bright Side of Psychedelics: Latest Advances and Challenges in Neuropharmacology International Journal of Molecular Sciences January 10, 2023
- Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: A pathway to enhanced empathy. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2024
- The effect of psilocin on neurotransmitters release in the claustrum and on rat behavior. Pharmacological Reports February 1, 2026
- Psychedelic experiences in psychedelic-assisted therapy for depression Philosophical Psychology July 25, 2024
Cites 15
- Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease March 4, 2014
- Out‐of‐body experience and autoscopy of neurological origin Brain January 15, 2004
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
- Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers PLoS One February 17, 2012
- Response of cluster headache to psilocybin and LSD Neurology June 26, 2006
and 10 more in the library