Recreational use of psychedelics is associated with elevated personality trait openness: Exploration of associations with brain serotonin markers.
David Erritzøe, James Smith, Patrick M Fisher, Robin Carhart-Harris, Vibe G Frokjaer, Gitte M Knudsen
J Psychopharmacol February 28, 2019 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119827891 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeople who use psychedelics recreationally tend to score higher on the personality trait openness, which involves being open-minded, curious, and receptive to new experiences. This study examined whether this link might be explained by differences in the brain's serotonin system, a key chemical system affected by psychedelics. Using brain imaging, the researchers measured serotonin markers in recreational users and non-users. The findings suggest that higher openness in psychedelic users is not directly tied to these serotonin markers, indicating that other factors may underlie the personality differences.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Recreational psychedelic users and non-users |
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Recreational psychedelic experiences Recreational use Personality openness Enhanced personality trait |
| Citations | 95 |
| Key finding | Higher openness in recreational psychedelic users is not directly associated with brain serotonin markers. |
Abstract
Recreational use of psychedelics is associated with elevated personality trait openness: Exploration of associations with brain serotonin markers.