LSD Hallucinations: From Ergot to Electric Kool-Aid
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1985 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.1985.10524329 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractLSD, derived from ergot alkaloids, produces hallucinations by interfering with serotonin neurotransmission in the brain. The article traces the history of LSD from its synthesis by Albert Hofmann in 1938 through its use in psychiatric research and later as a recreational drug in the 1960s counterculture. It describes how LSD's effects vary with dose, setting, and the user's psychological state, and notes that while early research suggested therapeutic potential, political and cultural controversies led to its prohibition and the end of most clinical studies.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Psychology Psychiatry Medicine Anesthesia |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key finding | LSD hallucinations result from serotonin receptor interference, and the drug's history spans psychiatric research to recreational use, with its prohibition ending most clinical studies. |
Abstract
(1985). LSD Hallucinations: From Ergot to Electric Kool-Aid. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs: Vol. 17, LSD in Retrospect, pp. 247-256.