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- Title
Dreamlike effects of LSD on waking imagery in humans depend on serotonin 2A receptor activation.
- Authors
Kraehenmann, Rainer; Pokorny, Dan; Vollenweider, Leonie; Preller, Katrin; Pokorny, Thomas; Seifritz, Erich; Vollenweider, Franz
- Abstract
Rationale: Accumulating evidence indicates that the mixed serotonin and dopamine receptor agonist lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) induces an altered state of consciousness that resembles dreaming. Objectives: This study aimed to test the hypotheses that LSD produces dreamlike waking imagery and that this imagery depends on 5-HT2A receptor activation and is related to subjective drug effects. Methods: Twenty-five healthy subjects performed an audiorecorded guided mental imagery task 7 h after drug administration during three drug conditions: placebo, LSD (100 mcg orally) and LSD together with the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin (40 mg orally). Cognitive bizarreness of guided mental imagery reports was quantified as a standardised formal measure of dream mentation. State of consciousness was evaluated using the Altered State of Consciousness (5D-ASC) questionnaire. Results: LSD, compared with placebo, significantly increased cognitive bizarreness ( p < 0.001). The LSD-induced increase in cognitive bizarreness was positively correlated with the LSD-induced loss of self-boundaries and cognitive control ( p < 0.05). Both LSD-induced increases in cognitive bizarreness and changes in state of consciousness were fully blocked by ketanserin. Conclusions: LSD produced mental imagery similar to dreaming, primarily via activation of the 5-HT2A receptor and in relation to loss of self-boundaries and cognitive control. Future psychopharmacological studies should assess the differential contribution of the D2/D1 and 5-HT1A receptors to cognitive bizarreness.
- Subjects
PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of LSD; LSD (Drug); OPTICAL illusions; KETANSERIN; DREAMS; ILLUSION (Philosophy)
- Publication
Psychopharmacology, 2017, Vol 234, Issue 13, p2031
- ISSN
0033-3158
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00213-017-4610-0