Effect of an Hallucinogenic Agent on Verbal Behavior
Psychological Reports – October 01, 1963
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A single individual receiving a 9mg dose of Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, initially experienced enhanced verbal communication quality for 1.5 hours. This intriguing finding, relevant to Cognitive psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests a temporary boost in cognitive processes. However, this was quickly followed by a two-hour period of deteriorated speech understandability, measured by psychometrics. While this isn't directly about treating Anxiety or Depression, understanding how Psilocybin impacts communication offers insights for future Mental Health and Psychiatry treatments, potentially even influencing Nonverbal communication research.
Abstract
Cloze analysis was used to assess the “understandability” of the spontaneous speech of a normal S who had received 9 mg. of psilocybin. This drug seemed to exert an enhancing effect within the first 1½ hr., followed quickly by a deterioration in the quality of verbal communication for about the next 2 hr.