Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
January 1, 2023
James Glazer, Conor H Murray, Robin Nusslock et al.
52 citations
Single low doses of LSD increase reward-related brain activity in healthy adults. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment, 18 participants received 13 μg or 26 μg of LSD or a placebo across three sessions. Brain electrical activity was recorded during a monetary incentive delay task. Compared to placebo, the 13 μg dose enhanced three event-related potential components: Reward-Positivity (RewP), Feedback-P3 (FB-P3), and Late-Positive Potential (LPP), indicating increased hedonic, motivational, and affective processing of reward feedback. The 26 μg dose also increased FB-P3 amplitudes for positive feedback. These effects were not linked to most subjective drug effects. The findings provide the first evidence that low LSD doses boost reward-related brain activity, with potential implications for treating depressive disorders.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
June 1, 2024
Conor H Murray, Joel Frohlich, Connor J Haggarty et al.
30 citations
Neural complexity, a measure of brain signal diversity, increases after low doses of LSD (13 and 26 µg) even when volunteers do not report an altered state of consciousness. In three separate placebo-controlled experiments with 73 healthy adults, LSD dose-dependently raised neural complexity, while THC and methamphetamine did not. LSD also reduced delta and theta brain wave power, and those reductions correlated with feelings of elation. THC reduced alpha power, which was linked to altered states, and methamphetamine increased alpha power. The findings show that increased neural complexity is neither necessary nor sufficient for an altered state of consciousness, and that different drugs affect brain activity and subjective experience through distinct mechanisms.
Frontiers in psychology
January 1, 2026
Conor H Murray, Kafui Dzirasa, Dana Sawyer et al.
Consciousness remains one of the most enduring questions across human history, with thinkers debating its definition, mechanisms, and purpose. This review examines historical and contemporary perspectives from philosophy, science, medicine, and practice, integrating neuroscientific models, clinical applications, and contemplative methods. The authors identify common themes and persistent gaps in knowledge, highlighting opportunities for future investigation. They advance a working model of consciousness that considers how it is constructed, measured, and modified, and why it may be central to survival and human flourishing.