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... Small quantities cause relaxation and slight changes in mood but larger quantities can cause stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, shivering, a numbing of the mouth and dizziness. People sometimes mistakenly take poisonous mushrooms for those containing psilocybin. Cannabis is a depressant drug that slows down the body's systems. Very strong cannabis preparations or larger quantities of cannabis can cause mild hallucinogenic effects. These can lead to anxiety or panic in the user (Australian Drug Foundation, 2002).
Much of the investigation on hallucinogenic drugs has centered on brain serotonin. The major reason is that many of the major hallucinogens had a molecular structure similar to that of serotonin. Scientists started to cautiously study the serotonin system and found out that hallucinogens have some kind of effect on serotonin. Hallucinogenic drugs cause increase in the level of brain serotonin, but they slow down the quick firing of neurons containing serotonin. This is a harmful reaction system in which as the serotonin level rises, the activity of serotonergic neurons diminishes. It was initially theorized that this effect of hallucinogenic drugs directly caused sense alteration and hallucinations.
Secondly, animal studies examining brain neuro chemistry following administration of hallucinogens invariably reported changes in serotonin. It is observed that much of the brain and a number of its neurotransmitters react to the administration of these potent drugs. However, the only trustworthy and dependable change common to all LSD-like hallucinogens is seen in brain serotonin, apparent itself as changes in synthesis, release, catabolism, or receptor action (Jacob 1983, pg: 344 - 76). It has now been strong-minded that the effects of hallucinogenic drugs have on the post-synaptic activity of serotonergic neurons. Hallucinogenic drugs directly affect the serotonin receptors, which is what eventually results in a complex pattern of action potentials and activity. The fact proves that the exhaustion of serotonin levels in animals does not result in a reduction of behavioral effects caused by hallucinogenic drugs (B.
L. Jacobs, 1987). It is well known that hallucinatory experience is a diverse and intricate one; in fact, this is one of the trademarks of hallucinations. Therefore, it may emerge inexperienced to speak of these effects being mediated by a single specific neurotransmitter system.
These are the prime site of action of hallucinogenic drugs. Once a drug acts upon the brain and many of its neuro chemical systems, the brain serotonin system acts as a trigger for a multitude of changes whose elaboration produced the hallucinatory incident. Investigators articulated that the effects of LSD were intervened by an action on the neuro transmission of serotonin in the brain. Unluckily, brain research was so prehistoric and immature at the level of technical capability. Two different groups of scientist reported that LSD put forth a great barricade of serotonin's biological action (Gaddum 1954, pg: 240 - 48). Some intellectuals argue that Hallucinogens are unlawful because of their recognized detrimental effects.
Like sedatives and anesthetics, they change subjective states of awareness delightfully in mind-expanding sensations. They may cause momentary psychoses, dreamy states and delusional withdrawals from reality which may produce permanent damage. Nevertheless, the hallucinogens comprise behavior-control devices for the future once their specificity and selectivity are defined. The reaction of hallucinogens differs from person to person. It depends on various aspects which include an individual's size, weight and health, dose of drug is taken, whether the person is habitual to taking it and whether other drugs are taken. It also depends on whether use is combined with drinking alcohol and the surroundings in which the drug is consumed such as whether the person is alone, with others, or at a party.
During the "acid tests" of 60 's and 70 's, hallucinogenic drugs were used for mind exploration (B. L. Jacobs, 1987). Hallucinogenic drugs cause both physical and psychological effects on individuals. The physical effects of these drugs comprise dilated pupils, elevated body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, appetite loss, sleeplessness, tremors, headaches, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations, blurring of vision, memory loss, trembling, and itching.
A person consuming hallucinogenic drugs will also experience a number of psychological changes in the brain. These drugs may cause hallucinations and illusions as well as the intensification of sense, and the alterations of thinking and self-awareness. Hallucinogenic drugs may have bad reaction to human mind and body. These reactions may cause panic, confusion, suspicion, anxiety, and loss of control. The long-standing effects of these drugs can be relatively risky.
These long-term effects may include flashbacks, mood swings, impaired thinking, and unexpected outbursts of violence and eventually possibly depression that may lead to death or suicide. In todays world, major interest regarding hallucinogens has been created by neuro biologists and other scientists. They observed interesting and complicated effect of these drugs on brain. Hallucinogenic drugs users have experienced whole personality modification which raises issue about the association between brain and behavior. Scientists are engrossed to research that how total variations of the senses can occur as the result of hallucinogen practice. Many people that have used hallucinogens state to have "seen sounds" or "heard colors." Scientists query is that how can people under the pressure of hallucinogenic drugs see things that are not present in reality?
Another facet of hallucinogenic drugs that catches an eye to scientists is that that they impersonate certain aspects of psychosis. The chemical structure of the hallucinogenic appears very akin to the chemical structure of the neurotransmitters in the brain. Scientist concludes that when person consumes a hallucinogenic drug, the drug gets into the brain and interferes with the normal operation of the neurotransmitters. The hallucinogenic drug deceives the neurons into thoughts. It is a neurotransmitter and it then upsets the regular flow of activity in the neurons. The hallucinogens increase the activity in ones consciousness; scientists suppose that whatever be the activity or impact of hallucinogens in the brain, eventually they are troublemaking inhibitory synapses.
Inhibitory synapses provide a filtering function in the brain and that unwanted or unnecessary stimuli are repressed. If hallucinogens interrupt this filtering function, then one would anticipate an augment in the noise level of the brain leading to such activities as hallucinations or even delusions. Thus, the effects of hallucinogens are normally seen by scientists to be noise (De Gracia, 1993). Scientist claimed that by the use of hallucinogenic drugs, one can tempt temporary symptoms of psychosis. In early research on hallucinogens, it was resolute that hallucinogenic drugs structurally look like serotonin (5 -HT). Serotonin is found in specific neurons in the brain that intercede chemical neuro transmission in the brain (B.
L. Jacobs, 1987). Hallucinations and other effects of hallucinogens are however very complicated experiences. They do not merely a part of a cause and effect system in the brain, where hallucinogenic drugs act on serotonin and cause hallucinations. Hallucinogenic drugs act firstly on the serotonin system, which sends into motion, a pattern of complex action potentials and activity.
Other neurotransmitters may be occupied in these activities as well. The effects that inputs and outputs have on each other in this system as well as the pattern of action potentials mediated by hallucinogenic drugs assist to cause many of the multifaceted alterations that permit hallucinations to occur (B. L. Jacobs, 1987). Naturally occurring hallucinogens have been extensively used by various cultures throughout the world, particularly North and South American Indians, for their numinous and spiritual associations. They became very trendy in the USA and Europe, as many young people were chasing greater personal liberty and questioning old morals and thoughts.
People usually take these drugs on occasions which may be weeks or months apart. This may be because the effects need a long revival time or the enjoyable effects are erratic. Most of the people in society usually do not use these drugs at regular basis presently because of fear of dangerous effects. To conclude, Hallucinogenic agents, a synonyms of psycho mimetic agents, are competent of creating hallucinations, sensory misapprehensions and strange feelings. The principal effect of these compounds is to constantly modify thought and sensory perceptions. Some of these drugs are used for medication to generate model psychoses as support in psychotherapy.
Hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD and mescaline were observed by the medical and psychiatric fields as being means that seemed to create psychosis. An additional reason is to explore the rapport of mind, brain, and biochemistry with the purpose of elucidating mental ailments such as schizophrenia. Presently, these drugs are gaining much interest to scientist. These drugs offer a severe challenge to the conformist scientific astuteness. Science tells us that our consciousness is somehow the product of our brain. When a person consumes drug, a chemical severely alters the brain and in turn alters our behavior.
The immense interest in hallucinogens from many years of research have been done to attempt and establish precisely how the brain is affected by these drugs. The hallucinogen is assumed to be the way to approach God. Work -Cited 1) Melechi, Antonio. Psychedelia Britannica: Hallucinogenic Drugs in Britain. 1997.
London: Turnaround. ISBN: 1 - 873262 - 05 - 1. 2) B. L. Jacobs. How Hallucinogenic Drugs Work. American Scientist. 1987.
vol. 75. Pg: 385 - 92. 3) Suites Richard Evans, Hallucinigenic plants... Racine, WI: Golden Press. 1976. pg: 10. 4) De Gracia Donald J. A Short Guide about Hallucinogenic Drugs for the Explorers of Inner Space. 1993. web 5) Gaddam J H, K A Handed.
Drugs which antagonize 5 hydroxytyptomine. Brit J Pharmacal. 1954. Pg: 240 - 48. 6) B L Jacob. Mechanism of action of Hallucinogenic group Focus upon post synaptic Serotonergic receptors. In psychopharmacology. Vol. 1.
Ed. D G Game -Smith. 1983. Pg: 344 - 76. 7) B L Jacob, M E Tucson. Mechanism of action of LSD AM Sci 67. 1979. Pg: 396 - 404. 8) my Dr, . What are Hallucinogens?
The Australian Drug Foundation. Reviewed 2002. web 9) Richard Crocket, R. A. Sandison, and Alexander Walk. Hallucinogenic Drugs and their Psychotherapeutic Use.
Proceedings of the Quarterly Meeting of the Royal Medico Psychological Association, London, February, 1961. Pg. 191. London: H. K. Lewis and Co. Ltd. 1963. 10) Levitt Robert A.
Psychopharmacology: a biological approach. Washington: Hemisphere Pub. Corp. Halsted Press.
New York 1975.
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Research essay sample on Hallucinogenic Drugs Neuro Transmission
