Psychological Reports
August 1, 1966
Willis W. Harman, Robert H. Mckim, Robert E. Mogar et al.
140 citations
A preliminary study explored whether psychedelic agents (LSD-25, mescaline) can facilitate creative problem-solving. Twenty-seven professionally employed males received a single psychedelic experience in small groups after extensive selection and preparation. The session was carefully structured to shape participants' expectations and create a supportive social environment. Tentative findings from creativity tests, subjective reports, self-ratings, and the usefulness of problem solutions suggested that, under this regimen, psychedelic agents seem to facilitate creative problem-solving, especially during the “illumination phase.” The results also suggested that various degrees of increased creative ability may persist for at least some weeks after the session.
Psychological Reports
January 6, 2017
115 citations
Brief mindfulness and loving-kindness meditations increase feelings of social and nature connectedness, but do not alter positive or negative affect. In an experiment with 115 undergraduates, those who listened to a guided mindfulness or loving-kindness meditation reported greater connectedness afterward compared to those who listened to a progressive muscle relaxation control. The two meditation types were similarly effective, and neither changed emotional state.
Psychological Reports
October 1, 1976
87 citations
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is highly effective for properly selected individuals when administered by knowledgeable practitioners, but it is not a universal cure. When used indiscriminately, clinical evidence suggests the technique can trigger serious psychiatric issues, including depression, agitation, and schizophrenic decompensation.
Psychological Reports
February 1, 1964
Charles Savage, Ethel Savage, James Fadiman et al.
25 citations
In a study of psychedelic therapy, patients received LSD and mescaline in a supportive setting after intensive preparation. Subjective questionnaires from 113 patients showed a high frequency of claimed benefit, a low frequency of negative reactions, and a strong link between claimed benefit and reports of 'greater awareness of ultimate reality' during the LSD experience. Clinical data from 74 cases, including blind ratings of MMPI profiles, supported the improvement rate. The total improvement rate was above 80%, with follow-ups ranging from 6 months to 2 years.
Psychological Reports
October 1, 1963
Gilbert Honigfeld
7 citations
Cloze analysis assessed the understandability of spontaneous speech from a normal subject who received 9 mg of psilocybin. The drug appeared to enhance verbal communication within the first 1.5 hours, followed by a rapid deterioration in the quality of verbal communication for approximately the next 2 hours.