Recent studies into the molecular, pharmacological and behavioral basis of psychotomimetics such as the glutamate N-methyl- D -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine and the mixed 5- hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor agonist psilocybin in healthy human subjects suggest that both the glutamatergic and serotonergic system are implicated in the pathophysiolology of psychotic disorders such...
This paper investigates the relationship between psychoactive substances and so-called paranormal phenomena falling within the study of parapsychology. It is primarily concerned with extrasensory perception (ESP)—telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance—as well as out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and near-death experiences (NDEs). Psychokinesis (PK), aura vision, encounter experiences, and sleep...
The neurobiology of synaesthesia is receiving growing attention in the search for insights into consciousness, such as the binding problem. One way of decoding the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this phenomenon is to investigate the induction of synaesthesia via neurochemical agents, as commonly occurs with psychedelic substances. How synaesthesia is affected by drugs can also help inform...
Since the early 1990s, hallucinogenic drugs, such as psilocybin, have been increasingly used to investigate the neuronal basis of altered states of consciousness and psychosis. Furthermore, renewed interest has emerged in using these drugs as an adjunct to psychotherapy. Nevertheless, the therapeutic and experimental use of these substances is still controversial due to fears of potential harm....