Low-dose LSD and the stream of thought: Increased Discontinuity of Mind, Deep Thoughts and abstract flow.
Isabel Wießner, Marcelo Falchi, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Lucas Oliveira Maia, Amanda Feilding, Sidarta Ribeiro, Natália Bezerra Mota, Draulio B Araujo, Luís Fernando Tófoli
Psychopharmacology June 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-06006-3 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractLSD alters the stream of thought in multiple ways, increasing chaos, meaning, and abstractness at different times after ingestion. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study with 24 healthy participants, 50 μg LSD compared to placebo induced facets of mind-wandering labeled 'chaos' (discontinuity of mind, decreased sleepiness and planning), 'meaning' (deep thoughts), and 'sensation' (thoughts about odors and sounds). LSD also increased free association for abstract words, reflecting an 'abstract flow.' Chaos was strongest from 2 to 6 hours after dosing, meaning from 2 to 4 hours, sensation at 2 hours, and abstract flow at 4 hours. The findings suggest a late therapeutic window around 4 hours for psycholytic therapy.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Healthy participants |
| Intervention | Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) |
| Dose | 50 μg |
| Duration | Assessments at +0 h, +2 h, +4 h, +6 h, +8 h and +24 h after drug administration |
| Topics | LSD |
| Keywords | Abstract thinking Forward flow Free association Mind-wandering |
| Citations | 22 |
| Key finding | LSD increases chaos, meaning, sensation, and abstract flow in the stream of thought at different time points from 2 to 6 hours after administration. |
Abstract
Stream of thought describes the nature of the mind when it is freely roaming, a mental state that is continuous and highly dynamic as in mind-wandering or free association. Classic serotonergic psychedelics are known to profoundly impact perception, cognition and language, yet their influence on the stream of thought remains largely unexplored. To elucidate the effects of LSD on the stream of thought. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 24 healthy participants received 50 μg lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) or inactive placebo. Mind-wandering was measured by the Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire (ARSQ), free association by the Forward Flow Task (FFT) for three seed word types (animals, objects, abstract words). ARSQ and FFT were assessed at +0 h, +2 h, +4 h, +6 h, +8 h and +24 h after drug administration, respectively. LSD, compared to placebo, induced different facets of mind-wandering we conceptualized as "chaos" (Discontinuity of Mind, decreased Sleepiness, Planning, Thoughts under Control, Thoughts about Work and Thoughts about Past), "meaning" (Deep Thoughts, Not Sharing Thoughts) and "sensation" (Thoughts about Odours, Thoughts about Sounds). LSD increased the FFT for abstract words reflecting an "abstract flow" under free association. Overall, chaos was strongest pronounced (+2 h to +6 h), followed by meaning (+2 h to +4 h), sensation (+2 h) and abstract flow (+4 h). LSD affects the stream of thought within several levels (active, passive), facets (chaos, meaning, sensation, abstractness) and time points (from +2 h to +6 h). Increased chaos, meaning and abstract flow at +4 h indicate the utility of a late therapeutic window in psycholytic therapy.