PS268 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Psilocybin, Hallucinogen, Mescaline
Document Summary
As a neurbiologist i find hallucinogens quite intriguing. In this lesson we will consider some of the more commonly encountered hallucinogens. Drugs like psilocybin (magic mushrooms), mescaline (petore), ectasy and mdma, salvia, lsd. Until recently, their use was not recreational. Rather, the use of hallucinogens historically (and in some cases to this day) was associated with religious rituals. Animism with spiritual significance is a recurring plot device in tales from the major world religions. These stories are all derived frim parts of the world where hallucinogenic plants grow: specifically, hallucinogenic plants which if eaten today coupl reproduce those experiences in some users. Stores from thousands of years ago are of course unverifiable stories to the use (accidental or intentional) of hallunciogenic drug is a somewhat pointless exercise for scientists. It certainly gives the increasingl small percentage of people who believe in literal interpretations of their sacred religious text something to think about.
