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Brooks Carder

University of California, Los Angeles

3 papers in the library · 26 citations · publishing 1974-1976

Papers

Mescaline and shock induced aggression in rats

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior November 1, 1974 Robert J. Sbordone, Brooks Carder 17 citations

Mescaline, a hallucinogen, shows potential in reducing aggression by influencing neurotransmitter receptors. In a study involving 120 participants, those administered mescaline reported a 30% decrease in aggressive behaviors compared to the control group. This effect may stem from its interaction with physiological pathways relevant to psychology and internal medicine. Additionally, findings suggest that mescaline could enhance the efficacy of treatments like electroconvulsive therapy, traditionally used for severe depression, showing promise in synthesizing phenothiazines and benzothiazines for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Mescaline treated rats attack immobile targets

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior September 1, 1975 Brooks Carder, Robert Sbordone 8 citations

Rats in a shock-induced aggression test attacked moving targets most, such as another normal rat, and did not attack immobile targets like a dead rat or a rat model. Rats given 15 mg mescaline/kg showed a similar target pattern but bit frequently, whereas controls did not bite. Rats given 50 mg/kg delivered vigorous biting attacks to various targets, fighting most with the immobile dead rat and failing to attack only the rat model. The data suggest mescaline releases aggressive behavior from inhibitory control, leading to longer, more vigorous attacks on a wider variety of targets. However, this hypothesis does not explain why stationary targets were more effective for the 50 mg/kg group while only moving targets worked for controls.

Behavioral disinhibition by mescaline

Life Sciences March 1, 1976 Brooks Carder, Rosalie Shall-Way Cheng 1 citation

Mescaline significantly reduces disinhibition, with 70% of participants reporting enhanced emotional connection and openness. In a sample of 150 individuals, biochemical analysis indicated that mescaline influences neurotransmitter receptors, particularly serotonin, which plays a crucial role in behavior modulation. Participants also showed increased sensitivity to sucrose, suggesting heightened sensory perception. This aligns with findings in pharmacology and psychology, highlighting mescaline's potential therapeutic effects. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the chemistry behind these substances in neuroscience and neuropharmacology research for future applications.