5-MeO-DMT, a serotonin-like molecule found in traditional Amerindian medicine, alters the protein landscape of human cerebral organoids. Out of 6,728 identified proteins, 934 were differentially expressed after treatment. Computational analysis confirmed previously reported anti-inflammatory effects and revealed modulation of proteins involved in long-term potentiation, dendritic spine formation, cellular protrusion, microtubule dynamics, and cytoskeletal reorganization. These findings provide initial molecular insights into how this compound may affect human brain metabolism.
Religions have long recognized lucid dreaming (LD) as an important conscious state, predating modern scientific study by millennia. Hindu texts over 2,000 years old divide consciousness into waking, dreaming (including LD), and deep sleep. Tibetan Buddhists practice Dream Yoga to recognize dreams, overcome fears, and control dream content. Islam regards LD as a valuable mental state for mystical experiences. Christian theologian Augustine described LD as a preview of the afterlife. Spiritism in the nineteenth century linked LD to out-of-body experiences. Abrahamic religions view dreams as communication with God, while Indian traditions cultivate self-awareness through LD induction techniques. These historical religious insights can inform current scientific research on LD phenomenology.