Albert Hofmann, the Father of LSD (1906–2008)
Neuropsychobiology – January 01, 2008
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Albert Hofmann first experienced the potent hallucinogen Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on April 16, 1943, after its initial synthesis in 1938. Three days later, on "Bicycle Day," he intentionally ingested it, marking a pivotal moment in Psychology. Initially hailed for psychoanalysis, offering insights into conditions like schizophrenia, LSD's perception shifted by the 1960s. This compound, central to Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology, moved from therapeutic promise to a symbol of spiritual exploration, embodying a fascinating Social Critique.
Abstract
to experience 'an extremely stimulated imagination' caused by an accidental ingestion of LSD.Three days later, on April 19, 1943, he decided to verify his results by intentionally ingesting LSD.This day has become known as 'Bicycle Day' as Hofmann experienced an incredible bicycle ride on his way home from the lab.LSD was initially hailed as a wonder drug for use in psychoanalysis, particularly for gaining insights into schizophrenia; but in the 1960s, it came to be seen by Harvard's Timothy Leary and others as a pathway to spiritual enlightenment, Dr. Albert Hofmann, the brilliant Swiss synthetic chemist, was best known for fathering the compound lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), one of the most powerful psychotropic substances known, on April 16, 1943.Hofmann's discovery of the effect of LSD in Basel came 5 years after his original synthesis of the molecule in 1938, LSD-25, which was set aside as he continued with other derivatives.Four years later, he resynthesized LSD-25 because he felt he might have missed something the first time around.That day, he became the first human