How psychedelics work, explained in under 6 minutes | Matthew Johnson
How psychedelics work, explained by Johns Hopkins professor Matthew Johnson.
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Up next, Psychedelics: The scientific renaissance of mind-altering drugs
► https://youtu.be/5T0LmbWROKY
Humans have been consuming psychedelic substances for millennia, but only in the past century have we made significant progress in understanding how they affect the brain and our psychology.
We have learned, for example, that psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT cause psychedelic experiences primarily by affecting a particular type of serotonin receptor, while other drugs like ketamine and PCP primarily affect the glutamate system.
But there remain open questions about how these biological effects contribute to profound psychological changes in people who take psychedelics. One answer seems to center on how the drugs spark communication between different brain regions. What’s more, psychedelics seem to encourage greater neuroplasticity, meaning the brain becomes primed to learn new things in the wake of a psychedelic experience.
Check out this Big Think interview with Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University who explains how psychedelics work, and what researchers hope to uncover about the substances in the future.
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/explain-it-like-im-smart/how-psychedelics-work/
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About Matthew Johnson:
Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., is The Susan Hill Ward Endowed Professor of Psychedelics and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins. Working with psychedelics since 2004, he is one of the world’s most widely published experts on psychedelics. He has published research on psychedelics and mystical experience, personality change, tobacco smoking cessation, cancer distress treatment, and depression treatment. In 2021 he received as principal investigator the first grant in 50 years from the US government for a treatment study with a classic psychedelic, specifically psilocybin in treatment of tobacco addiction. He is also known for his expertise in behavioral economics, addiction, sexual risk behavior, and research with a wide variety of drug classes. He’s been Interviewed by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR, Fox News, Fox Business News, BBC and in Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind.
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Read more of our stories on psychedelics:
AI maps psychedelic “trip” experiences to regions of the brain – opening new route to psychiatric treatments
► https://bigthink.com/health/ai-maps-psychedelic-trip-in-brain/
Psychedelic drugs: how to tell good research from bad
► https://bigthink.com/health/psychedelic-drugs-research/
Metaphysics and mushrooms: Psychedelics can change how you think about the universe
► https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/psychedelics-mushrooms-metaphysics/
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How psychedelics work, explained by Johns Hopkins professor Matthew Johnson.
Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvQECJukTDE2i6aCoMnS-Vg?sub_confirmation=1
Up next, Psychedelics: The scientific renaissance of mind-altering drugs
► https://youtu.be/5T0LmbWROKY
Humans have been consuming psychedelic substances for millennia, but only in the past century have we made significant progress in understanding how they affect the brain and our psychology.
We have learned, for example, that psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT cause psychedelic experiences primarily by affecting a particular type of serotonin receptor, while other drugs like ketamine and PCP primarily affect the glutamate system.
But there remain open questions about how these biological effects contribute to profound psychological changes in people who take psychedelics. One answer seems to center on how the drugs spark communication between different brain regions. What’s more, psychedelics seem to encourage greater neuroplasticity, meaning the brain becomes primed to learn new things in the wake of a psychedelic experience.
Check out this Big Think interview with Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University who explains how psychedelics work, and what researchers hope to uncover about the substances in the future.
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/explain-it-like-im-smart/how-psychedelics-work/
———————————————————————————-
About Matthew Johnson:
Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., is The Susan Hill Ward Endowed Professor of Psychedelics and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins. Working with psychedelics since 2004, he is one of the world’s most widely published experts on psychedelics. He has published research on psychedelics and mystical experience, personality change, tobacco smoking cessation, cancer distress treatment, and depression treatment. In 2021 he received as principal investigator the first grant in 50 years from the US government for a treatment study with a classic psychedelic, specifically psilocybin in treatment of tobacco addiction. He is also known for his expertise in behavioral economics, addiction, sexual risk behavior, and research with a wide variety of drug classes. He’s been Interviewed by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR, Fox News, Fox Business News, BBC and in Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind.
———————————————————————————-
Read more of our stories on psychedelics:
AI maps psychedelic “trip” experiences to regions of the brain – opening new route to psychiatric treatments
► https://bigthink.com/health/ai-maps-psychedelic-trip-in-brain/
Psychedelic drugs: how to tell good research from bad
► https://bigthink.com/health/psychedelic-drugs-research/
Metaphysics and mushrooms: Psychedelics can change how you think about the universe
► https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/psychedelics-mushrooms-metaphysics/
———————————————————————————-
About Big Think | Smarter Faster™
► Big Think
The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century.
► Big Think+
Make your business smarter, faster: https://bigthink.com/plus/
———————————————————————————-
Want more Big Think?
► Daily editorial features: https://bigthink.com/popular/
► Get the best of Big Think right to your inbox: https://bigthink.com/st/newsletter
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Psychedelics have the ability to induce profound altered states of consciousness.
@mycotrent1
….
I just had my first experience with golden teachers, it was really great! I loved it.
Are there any withdrawal symptoms from psychedelics or is it harmful in any way or shape?
this dude needs to be on Rogan ASAP
I could remember several years ago, I was actually diagnosed with cptsd. Also suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. This is something that really need to be use globally to help people with related health challenges.
It just really Pisses me off that L.S.D. is illegal when it Could Really help/Cure this Sick and Deteriating world.
@2:20 you say 'psilocybin', while showing amanita muscaria onscreen
irresponsible; talk with your editor
can you really get stuck from doing schrooms or is it a myth ? please someone answer
Golden Teachers!!! Love‘em
A Question to Everyone Who Has Tried Psychedelics:
How has your social life, particularly your relationships and community interactions, transformed after your psychedelic experiences?
Mushrooms are extremely amazing. I could remember several years ago, i suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Was actually diagnosed with ADHD. Not until my mom recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
I can honestly say psychedelic experience is the most loneliest and emotionally broken experiences I’ve ever had. And that’s just the ‘fun’ LSD trips I’ve embarked on.
Im struggling with cptsd and depression and cant get the medicine that i need so bad because its fkn illegal.
Tell me how you make illegal
Something that we all make in our brain
Some say you might go crazy
But then again, it might make you go sane — Sturgill Simpson
It's totally inappropriate to call MDMA a psychedelic. That's like calling a sledgehammer a key to a lock. It's WRONG. The damage is permanent, but yes you can get the door open with a sledgehammer too. "Classic" compounds cause no damage… no damage… none.
Psychedelics definitely have the potential to deal with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, they really helped me.
LSD has been beneficial in my life.
Psychedelic = mind manifesting
Non-specific amplifiers
Psilicybin in magic mushrooms
LSD
DMT in Ayahuasca
Mescaline in peyote
.
MDMA releases serotonin
Ketamine
PCP affects glutamine system