What happens to an octopus on MDMA?
Luminous: A Podcast about the Science, Philosophy and Culture of PsychedelicsShow Notes
Psychedelics have a unique capacity to open up the mind so that everything feels fresh and full of possibilities. Especially as you get older, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut — but under a psychedelic, the brain can become more plastic. This time period, though, is limited - it might last just a few days, or a few weeks. So it’s really important to understand this “critical period” when our minds are so open — and also so vulnerable. These “critical periods” are what Gül Dölen has been studying for years. She’s a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins that has done some groundbreaking investigation of the “critical periods” of psychedelics, including studies that involve giving MDMA — also known as “Molly” in some circles — to octopuses. She’s also challenging a lot of the scientific work that’s been done on psychedelics — she has serious doubts about the value of neuroimaging, or even a concept like the “default mode network.” If you heard our last Luminous episode on the neuroscience of psychedelics, you’ll want to listen to this interview. — 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 MDMA and Social Reward 00:05:40 Reopening Critical Periods 00:25:25 Octopuses on MDMA 00:43:40 Cults and the Risk of Reopening —
Bio: Gül Dölen
WPR: "Your Brain on Shrooms"
More from Luminous: A Podcast about the Science, Philosophy and Culture of Psychedelics
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Chris Timmerman is a neuroscientist with a deep interest in phenomenology—what’s actually happening in our minds during psychedelic experiences. He leads the DMT Research Group at Imperial College, where he’s found that a single psychedelic experience can transform a person’s belief system, often turning materialists into panpsychists. In this wide-ranging conversation, Steve talks with Chris about everything from fractals and ayahuasca ceremonies to whether scientists who study psychedelics should talk openly about their own experiences. — 00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:40 Why Study Non-Ordinary States 00:16:05 What DMT Does to the Brain 00:29:15 Entities and Scientific Caution 00:49:40 The Questions Still Open — Bio: Chris Timmermann
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