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John Gruzelier

Imperial College London

3 papers in the library · 589 citations · publishing 2001-2013

Papers

Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness.

Psychological Bulletin January 1, 2005 Dieter Vaitl, Niels Birbaumer, John Gruzelier et al. 446 citations

Altered states of consciousness (ASC) can occur spontaneously, be evoked by physical or physiological stimulation, induced by psychological means, or caused by diseases. Psychological and neurobiological approaches reveal four dimensions characterizing ASC: activation, awareness span, self-awareness, and sensory dynamics. Neurophysiologically, different states of consciousness arise from compromised brain structure, transient changes in brain dynamics (disconnectivity), and neurochemical and metabolic processes. Environmental stimuli, mental practices, and self-control techniques can also temporarily alter brain functioning and conscious experience.

DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.131.1.98 Neurochemical Behavioral neuroscience Cognitive psychology Neurophysiology +4

Electrophysiological Evidence of Serotonergic Impairment in Long-Term MDMA (“Ecstasy”) Users

American Journal of Psychiatry October 1, 2001 Rodney J. Croft, A. Klugman, Torsten Baldeweg et al. 100 citations

Serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction is present in people who use MDMA, is linked to the amount of MDMA they have consumed, and is not explained by cannabis use. The deficit relates to total lifetime MDMA consumption rather than how often the drug is taken, which argues against the idea that users are self-medicating a pre-existing condition. The findings are consistent with MDMA consumption causing serotonin impairment in humans.

DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.10.1687 MDMA Ecstasy Serotonergic Cannabis +6