Psychedelics as a treatment for disorders of consciousness
Gregory Scott, Robin Carhart‐Harris
Neuroscience of Consciousness January 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niz003 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe classic psychedelic psilocybin may increase conscious awareness in patients with disorders of consciousness, based on its ability to increase brain complexity—a reliable index of conscious level. The authors propose testing this hypothesis but also confront the considerable ethical and practical challenges that must be addressed for direct assessment.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Persistent vegetative state Level of consciousness Cognitive psychology Consciousness disorders |
| Citations | 72 |
| Key finding | Psilocybin may increase conscious awareness in patients with disorders of consciousness by increasing brain complexity, but ethical and practical challenges must be addressed. |
Abstract
Based on its ability to increase brain complexity, a seemingly reliable index of conscious level, we propose testing the capacity of the classic psychedelic, psilocybin, to increase conscious awareness in patients with disorders of consciousness. We also confront the considerable ethical and practical challenges this proposal must address, if this hypothesis is to be directly assessed.