This thesis combines phenomenological and neuroscientific research to elucidate the effects of psychedelic agents on the human brain, mind and psychological well-being. Psychoactive plants have been used for thousands of years for ceremonial and ritual purposes. Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that affect cognitive processes and alter perception, thoughts, and mood. Illegalization of psychedelics in the 1960s rendered them impossible to study empirically but in the last couple of decades, relaxed legal restrictions regarding research purposes, renewed interest in the effects of psychedelic drugs and new brain imaging techniques have started to reveal the possibilities of these mind-altering substances. Psychedelics mainly affect the serotonin receptor 5-HT2A which in turn affect the functioning of largescale cortical areas by changing cerebral blood flow, alpha oscillations, and functional connectivity. These cortical changes not only induce immediate alterations in perception and cognition but have been shown to have positive effects in therapeutic interventions for depression, anxiety, and addiction, and also positively affect well-being in general. Although the pharmacology and neurobiology of psychedelics are still poorly understood, the potential benefits justify empirical research on psychedelics in humans.

The field of popular music studies currently lacks effective and extensive discourse on drumming and rhythmic parameters in general. Some important preliminary work exists primarily due to significant contributions by relatively few authors. This thesis serves to expand this literature by providing a detailed explanation of many of the primary elements involved in the intricate practice of rock drumming. Additionally, it expands the literature on the music of Jimi Hendrix by thoroughly exploring the musical contributions Mitch Mitchell made as the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Mitchell's stylistic approach to rock drumming is illuminated through analysis of the drum parts in four of the group's songs. An explanation of rock drumming in general and one effective individual approach are present within the work.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-10-30T14:48:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 jonathanviniciusdorinidemoraes.pdf: 1108891 bytes, checksum: 913d05a63b04d550cfc4dc23439e2505 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-11-23T11:41:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 jonathanviniciusdorinidemoraes.pdf: 1108891 bytes, checksum: 913d05a63b04d550cfc4dc23439e2505 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-23T11:41:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 jonathanviniciusdorinidemoraes.pdf: 1108891 bytes, checksum: 913d05a63b04d550cfc4dc23439e2505 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-22 / Esta pesquisa visa uma aproximação à vida de uma espécie de cogumelos mágicos (Psilocybe cubensis) difundida em Minas Gerais e por outras regiões no Brasil e no mundo, e a um conjunto de relações entre estes e os humanos. Com base na teoria ator-rede de Bruno Latour e inspirado pela antropologia “de volta à vida”, de Tim Ingold, o trabalho busca desenhar este campo social a partir de um percurso etnográfico que considera diversas dimensões encontradas ao se perseguir as práticas humanas com estes cogumelos: regulações do uso; o ciberespaço e as técnicas micológicas; modalidades de trocas comerciais e não comerciais aí presentes; experimentos-eventos compartilhados entre pessoas-organismos e o relato de suas “viagens” com cogumelos. O trabalho considera os humanos e os cogumelos como protagonistas, e a prática de ingestão de cogumelos como relações entre pessoas e materiais; assim persegue os cogumelos e as cogumelosidades em contextos diversos e entre diferentes participantes da pesquisa. / This research aims at an approach to the life of a species of magic mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis) spread in Minas Gerais and other regions in Brazil and the world, and to a set of relations between them and humans. Based on Bruno Latour's network-actor theory and inspired by Tim Ingold's "back to life" anthropology, the aim of this work is to draw this social field from an ethnographic course that considers several dimensions found when pursuing human practices with these mushrooms: use regulations; cyberspace and mycological techniques; modalities of trade and non-trade there; experiments-events shared between people-organisms and the reporting of their "trips" with mushrooms. The work considers humans and mushrooms as protagonists, and the practice of mushroom ingestion as relations between people and materials; thus chasing mushrooms and the conceptions of them in different contexts and between different research participants.

Mental illnesses, especially depression, are a global problem that require new treatment options to those whose symptoms are resistant to the current ones. Psilocybin, which is a naturally occurring drug in mushrooms, has become a potential candidate. It affects the brain by deactivating certain areas, causing not only changes in perception and consciousness but antidepressive responses as well, thereby improving well-being. Previous studies have looked at psilocybin and how it affects the brain, and also shown that short trials with psilocybin can cause long-lasting improvement. Here, I conducted an analysis including nine experimental articles that had studied psilocybin’s effects on depressive symptoms. Results confirm that psilocybin does decrease depressive symptoms, even long-lastingly, while only transient mild side effects being fairly common. Some conclusions could also be drawn of which types of patients will benefit of psilocybin treatment most likely. Future research with bigger sample sizes is needed, as well as more focus on identifying the ideal settings and patients of psilocybin-assisted therapy. / Mental ohälsa och särskilt depression är globala problem. Nya behandlingsalternativ behövs för de som inte får hjälp av nuvarande behandlingar. Psilocybin är ett ämne som finns i så kallade magiska svampar och har blivit en potentiell kandidat. Psilocybin påverkar hjärnan genom att inaktivera vissa delar, vilket leder till förändringar i perception, medvetandet och antidepressiva responser bland annat. Tidigare forskning har fokuserat på hur psilocybin påverkar hjärnan samt visat att även kortvarig behandling med psilocybin kan framkalla en långvarig förbättring av hur man mår. Denna analys inkluderar nio experiementella studier om psilocybins effekter på depressiva symtom. Resultatet visar att psilocybin minskar depressiva symptom, även långvarigt. Endast kortvariga milda bieffekter var rapporterade. Framtida forskning bör ha ett större antal av deltagare samt fokusera på att identifiera idealgruppen för denna typ av behandling.

The psychedelic psilocybin and the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) are being scientifically studied again after a long hiatus, and especially for their potential in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Their profound effect on cognitive, perceptual, and affective processes have led to several clinical studies during the last decade that have forced the reconsideration of the utility of these substances. The research includes clinical trials with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depressive and anxiety symptoms, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results have shown a significant reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and in PTSD symptoms in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, with acceptable adverse effects. Moreover, the reductions in symptoms have been shown to be sustained several years later. Given the results indicate short- and long-term safety and efficacy, even for treatment resistant conditions, this suggest that these substances administered with psychotherapy are promising and deserve to be taken seriously as a therapeutic tool. The present thesis provides an overview of the latest clinical studies on the treatment of depression, anxiety, and PTSD with psilocybin and MDMA, respectively, as well as reviews the history, mechanisms of action, the therapeutic process used with psilocybin and MDMA, and any adverse physiological and psychological effects of both substances.

Background: Psychedelic experience is a phenomenon that has become increasingly important in recent years. It is the subject of much research. The therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances and psychedelic experience for mental disorders, but also for addiction disorders, is interesting. This is a phenomenon that goes deep into history. Psychedelic substances were sought for altered states of consciousness during shamanic rituals. In recent history, these are substances that are often associated with the name Albert Hofmann in connection with the discovery of the effects of LSD. These are substances that are relatively safe and do not have the potential to be addictive, and are therefore of great scientific interest. Aim: The aim of this thesis is to understand the psychedelic experience and its influence on attitudes to the use of addictive substances, as well as the importance of the respondents themselves to this experience. The main goal is to describe the influence of psychedelic experience on attitudes to the use of addictive substances. How is the change taking place, whether the respondents themselves are aware of it and how they perceive it. Sample: The research group consists of 5 respondents who were selected by the method of intentional selection and the method of snowball....

Background: Ayahuasca is a South American psychoactive brew that contains Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Research has experienced a resurgence of interest in exploring the potential of these substances in the last decade. Thus, the aim of this review was to systematically review studies that used a placebo-controlled design to explore the neural correlates and psychedelic experience induced by DMT and ayahuasca. Method: The search was conducted using the Web of Science and Scopus databases to select studies published between January 2000 and February 2022 that used neuroimaging techniques and recruited healthy participants. Thus, 7 papers were selected. Results: Ayahuasca alters electrical activity in the brain by decreasing spectralpower in all EEG frequency bands, predominantly in the alpha band. DMT caused a spatially widespread decrease in alpha bands and a more modest decrease in beta bands. Ayahuasca caused an increase in the flow of information in the brain from posterior regions to more frontal regions and an increase in scores in all the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS) subscales. Ayahuasca decreased connectivity in the Default Mode Network (DMN) and increases connectivity between DMN and the salience network. Conclusion: Ayahuasca and DMT can reliably produce profound changes in perception, emotions, and sense of self. Moreover, the decrease in the alpha band, the alteration of information flow between posterior and frontal regions, and the decrease in connectivity in the DMN could be the keystone understanding the neural correlates and the psychedelic experience induced by DMT andayahuasca.

Recently, psychedelic science (PS) has been going through a resurge with a vast increase in publications. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) is demonstrating promising results across the treatment of various psychiatric disorders; however, psychedelic science remains absent from the curriculum of both medical and psychology students in Sweden. This study examined medical students' attitudes towards PS, comparing them with psychology students' attitudes, which were previously investigated. The medical students' knowledge and attitudes towards psychedelic science and its therapeutic potential were analysed using a cross-sectional survey study design. Data from psychology students were collected in the spring of 2023, while data from medical students were collected in the fall of 2023. Both datasets were based on a digital survey, Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire, APQ. Multiple Mann-Whitney U tests and a chi-square test were performed across the two groups. n = 316 psychology students and n = 709 medical students answered the survey. Psychology students held more positive attitudes, rated themself as more knowledgeable and followed new findings about psychedelic science to a higher degree compared to medical students. There were no differences between the groups concerning the interests in learning about psychedelics as part of their curriculum, nor the current amount of education in PS they have received. Students who have used psychedelics themselves for recreational purposes held more positive attitudes compared to non-users. This study revealed an unmet request for education about PS from students. We argue this lack of education in PS may delay a future potential implementation of PAT in Sweden.

Human cultures have used classic psychedelics for healing purposes for millennia, emphasizing their subjective effects. In the 21st century, research has been revived to investigate the therapeutic effects of these substances. These substances show promising results in the treatment of various mental-related disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others, necessitating ethical considerations and guidelines for researchers, psychotherapists, and policymakers. The subjective effects of the psychedelic experience that these substances evoke, such as the feeling of oneness and interconnectedness, infallibility, the sense of reduced one's self-importance, the encounter with the "ultimate" reality or with God, radically distinguish them from typical psychiatric medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In their essay "Ethics and Ego Dissolution: the Case of Psilocybin", William R. Smith and Dominic Sisti argue that the special properties of psychedelics entail certain novel risks that warrant "enhanced" informed consent that is "one that is more comprehensive than what may be typical for other psychiatric medications". They emphasize the unique effects of these substances, including 1) the potential for significant personality changes, 2) the short duration of treatment, and 3) the potential for profound and transformative experiences. They highlight the importance of explicitly addressing these potential changes as part of the informed consent process to ensure patient understanding, autonomy, and well-being. This current paper substantially complements Smith and Sisti's work by discussing in more detail the differences between psychedelics and typical psychiatric medications with respect to informed consent. I first support their arguments and then further argue that there are three other critical reasons why psychedelics should not be treated like other psychiatric medications that should be considered when discussing the enhancement of informed consent and disclosure. 1) potential changes in ethical values, 2) set and setting, and 3) suggestibility. To clarify my argument, I propose a distinction between changes in worldview and ethical values induced by the psychedelic experience and emphasize their differential impact on individuals undergoing psychedelic therapy. I introduce the term "ethical limbo", characterized as a state of uncertainty or ambiguity regarding the ethical implications or consequences of a particular action, decision, or situation due to conflicting ethical values, to highlight a potential risk of the psychedelic experience that should be considered in informed consent. Finally, I address potential objections to my arguments before concluding the paper and addressing some limitations of the research.

The intent of this study was to compare life value differences using the Life Values Inventory. Differences among non-psychedelic users and psychedelic users were examined. Participants, ranging from age 18 to 48 from the University of Central Florida (UCF), a large state university, were recruited on a voluntarily basis. This was primarily done through online message board, the Sona System, and classroom announcements. The study was presented through the Sona System provided by UCF. In addition, all participants were students of the university. Results indicated significant differences among three out of 14 life values measured. The three life values that were shown to be significantly different among the non-psychedelic users and psychedelic users were: 1) concern for others, 2) loyalty to family or group, and 3) responsibility. In addition, the life value of spirituality was only found to be marginally significant.