Psychedelic: Difference between revisions

'''Psychedelics''' (also known as '''[[serotonergic]] [[hallucinogens]]''') are a class of [[psychoactive substances]] that produce an altered state of consciousness marked by unusual changes in perception, mood, and cognitive processes.<ref name="nicholsPSY">Nichols, D. E. (2016). Psychedelics. Pharmacological Reviews, 68(2), 264-355. https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.115.011478</ref> While their precise mechanism of action is not known, psychedelics are thought to produce their effects by binding to [[serotonin]] ('''5'''-'''h'''ydroxy'''t'''ryptamine or '''5-HT''') [[receptors]] in the central nervous system, particularly the 5-HT_2a subtype. Serotonin plays a number of critical roles throughout the human body and is a key [[neurotransmitter]] involved in the functioning and regulation of sensory perception, behavior, mood, cognition and memory.<ref name="nichols5HT">Nichols, D. E., & Nichols, C. D. (2008). Serotonin Receptors. Chemical Reviews, 108(5), 1614-1641. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr078224o</ref>

Human usage of psychedelics predates written history, and there is growing evidence that they were employed by early cultures in a variety of sociocultural and ritual contexts.<ref name="nicholsPSY" /> In modern times, psychedelic substances are used for a number of purposes that span from the traditional shamanic forms (such as the use of [[ayahuasca]] in the Amazon jungle, or [[peyote]] among Native Americans) to more modern forms of New Age spiritual, [[transpersonal]], or religious practices. Psychedelics, particularly those in the traditional or herbal forms, are sometimes referred to as [[entheogens]] (i.e. "generating the divine within")<ref>Dictionary - Entheogen | http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/entheogen</ref> by those who use them for these purposes, although they are also used in modern [[recreational drug use|recreational settings]].

[[Subjective effects]] can vary significantly depending on the subclass, but generally include some form of [[geometry|open and closed-eye visuals]], [[time distortion]], [[introspection|enhanced introspection]], [[conceptual thinking]], [[euphoria]], and [[ego loss]]. The so-called classical psychedelics, which consist of [[LSD]], [[psilocybin mushrooms]], [[mescaline]], and [[DMT]] ([[ayahuasca]]) are considered to produce the archetypal psychedelic effects and also have the most established safety profiles. Psychedelics can be divided into three major sub-classes: [[tryptamines]], [[lysergamides]], and [[phenethylamines]]. Psychedelic tryptamines (e.g. [[psilocybin mushrooms|psilocybin]], [[4-AcO-DMT]]) are either based on or derived from [[dimethyltryptamine]] (DMT), lyergamides (e.g. [[LSA]], [[AL-LAD]]) from [[LSD]], and phenethylamines (e.g. [[2C-B]]) on [[mescaline]].