Altered States
Eduardo E. Icaza, George A. Mashour
Anesthesiology September 21, 2013 DOI: 10.1097/01.anes.0000435635.42332.ee via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe neural mechanisms underlying the psychedelic experience remain poorly understood. A recent neuroimaging study found that psilocybin decreases cerebral blood flow and causes functional disconnections in the brain, a pattern surprisingly similar to that produced by general anesthetics. This article reviews historical instances of psychedelic experiences triggered by anesthetics and compares how these two drug classes produce altered states of consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Medicine Consciousness Neuroimaging Neuroscience |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key finding | Psilocybin and general anesthetics produce similar patterns of decreased cerebral blood flow and functional disconnections in the brain, despite generating opposite subjective experiences. |
Abstract
Abstract The psychedelic experience has been reported since antiquity, but there is relatively little known about the underlying neural mechanisms. A recent neuroimaging study on psilocybin revealed a pattern of decreased cerebral blood flow and functional disconnections that is surprisingly similar to that caused by various anesthetics. In this article, the authors review historical examples of psychedelic experiences induced by general anesthetics and then contrast the mechanisms by which these two drug classes generate altered states of consciousness.