Serotonergic psychedelics and personality: A systematic review of contemporary research
José Carlos Bouso, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Miguel Ángel Alcázar‐córcoles, Jaime E. C. Hallak
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews February 13, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.02.004 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSerotonergic psychedelics, which activate 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, can alter personality traits. A systematic review of 18 studies from 1985 to 2016 found that traits like Absorption and Self-Transcendence influence how people respond to these drugs. Users and nonusers differ in certain personality characteristics. When given in controlled settings, psychedelics may increase Openness and Self-Transcendence. Acute administration raises global brain entropy, which predicts changes in Openness. In long-term ayahuasca users, Self-Transcendence is negatively correlated with thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex. Both acute and long-term use appear to produce personality changes mediated by 5-HT2A receptors, suggesting therapeutic potential that warrants further randomized controlled trials.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Keywords | Personality Hallucinogen Openness to experience Posterior cingulate |
| Citations | 135 |
| Key finding | Serotonergic psychedelics administered in controlled settings may induce personality changes, such as increased Openness and Self-Transcendence, mediated by 5-HT2A receptors. |
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics act as agonists at cortical 5-HT2A receptors and seem to induce personality changes. We conducted a systematic review of studies assessing the effects of these drugs on personality. Papers published from 1985-2016 were included from PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO databases. Three hundred and sixty-nine studies were identified, and 18 were included. Specific personality traits, such as Absorption and Self-Transcendence, seem to influence the effects of psychedelics, and psychedelic drug users and nonusers appear to differ in some personality traits. Psychedelics administered in controlled settings may induce personality changes, such as increased Openness and Self-Transcendence. Increases in global brain entropy induced by acute psychedelic administration predicted changes in Openness, and Self-Transcendence was negatively correlated with cortical thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex in long-term religious ayahuasca users. Acute and long-term use of psychedelics is associated with personality changes that appear to be modulated by 5-HT2A receptors. These changes seem to induce therapeutic effects that should be further explored in randomized controlled studies.