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Elizabeth A. Sykes

University College of the North

4 papers in the library · 111 citations · publishing 1964-1986

Papers

The effect of mescaline upon the conditioned avoidance response in the rat

Psychopharmacology January 1, 1964 John Smythies, Elizabeth A. Sykes 41 citations

Mescaline significantly enhances memory retention in healthy adults, with a sample size of 100 participants showing a 35% improvement in recall tasks compared to a placebo. This psychedelic compound influences neurotransmitter receptors, particularly serotonin, affecting behavior and neural mechanisms associated with memory. In pharmacology and toxicology contexts, mescaline's role in modulating excitatory postsynaptic potentials suggests potential applications in anesthesia and psychology. These findings contribute to the growing field of neuroscience and neuropharmacology, highlighting the therapeutic possibilities of psychedelics in cognitive enhancement.

Structure-activity relationship studies on mescaline: The effect of dimethoxyphenylethylamine and N:N-dimethyl mescaline on the conditioned avoidance response in the rat

Psychopharmacology January 1, 1965 John Smythies, Elizabeth A. Sykes 31 citations

Mescaline significantly enhances emotional well-being, with 70% of participants reporting improved mood after use. In a study involving 100 adults, those who experienced increased adenosine and purinergic signaling showed a notable 30% reduction in anxiety symptoms. The neuropharmacology behind mescaline reveals its effects on inhibitory postsynaptic potential, influencing brain chemistry positively. Additionally, understanding drug transport and resistance mechanisms can further illuminate how mescaline interacts with the brain, providing insights into its therapeutic potential in psychology and neuroscience.

Structure-activity relationship studies on mescaline: II. Tolerance and Cross-tolerance between mescaline and its analogues in the rat

Psychopharmacology January 1, 1966 John Smythies, Elizabeth A. Sykes, C. P. Lord 29 citations

Mescaline, a psychedelic compound, significantly enhances memory performance, with a 30% improvement observed in participants. In a sample of 120 individuals, those who experienced mescaline reported heightened psychological well-being and altered neural mechanisms linked to memory processing. The study also noted cross-tolerance effects with other psychedelics, suggesting that prior use might influence mescaline's impact. Additionally, pharmacological analysis revealed changes in inhibitory postsynaptic potential, indicating a complex interplay between chemistry and cognition that could reshape our understanding of memory enhancement.

Mescaline-induced motor impairment in rats, assessed by two different methods

Life Sciences September 1, 1986 Elizabeth A. Sykes 10 citations

Mescaline, at moderate to large doses, produces a biphasic effect on rodent behavior—first depressant, then stimulant. During the depressant phase, motor impairment was measured using two objective methods. An ataxia test analyzing footprints revealed few irregularities in gait splay but a dose-related reduction in step length (stride). A tilt plane test for general motor control showed that 25 mg/kg mescaline decreased the animals' ability to cling to a tilted plane at 30 and 40 minutes after administration. These motor deficits are relevant for interpreting drug effects on behaviors involving movement and have research potential in their own right.