Possible role of biochemiluminescent photons for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-induced phosphenes and visual hallucinations

Rev Neurosci. 2017 Jan 1;28(1):77-86. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2016-0047.

Abstract

Today, there is an increased interest in research on lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) because it may offer new opportunities in psychotherapy under controlled settings. The more we know about how a drug works in the brain, the more opportunities there will be to exploit it in medicine. Here, based on our previously published papers and investigations, we suggest that LSD-induced visual hallucinations/phosphenes may be due to the transient enhancement of bioluminescent photons in the early retinotopic visual system in blind as well as healthy people.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Hallucinations / chemically induced
  • Hallucinations / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Lysergic Acid Diethylamide / pharmacology*
  • Phosphenes / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Photons*

Substances

  • Lysergic Acid Diethylamide