Psilocybin and Body Changes :: Chemistry Chemical Drugs Papers

Psilocybin and Body Changes Physiological (Whole Body) Changes Psilocybin, the active psychotomimetic, hallucinogenic chemical found in the psilocybe genus of mushrooms, is absorbed through the mouth and stomach and is a monoamine-related substance (Levitt 1975, Grilly, 1998). This means that psilocybin's biochemical effects are mediated by changes in the activity of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the central nervous system (made up of the brain and the spinal cord) primarily by way of 5HT2a receptors (Grilly 1998, Hasler 2003). Monoamine-related drugs share a basic similarity in molecular structure with monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Psilocybin produces bodily changes which are mostly sympathomimetic. This means that psilocybin mimics the effects of stimulating postganglionic adrenergic sympathetic nerves (online medical). The effects of this sympathetic nervous system arousal may consist of pupillary dilation, increases in blood pressure and heart rate, exaggeration of deep tendon reflexes, tremor, nausea, piloerection (hair erection), and increased body temperature (Grilly 1998). Psilocybin creates distinct psychological (hallucinogenic, entheogenic) changes in humans. Because of the mind-altering properties of the drug, much research on psilocybin is devoted to understanding its physiological effects on brain chemistry. A recent study tested prefrontal activation during a cognitive challenge and the neurometabolic effects of four different drugs on 113 regions of interest of the brain (Gouzoulis 1999). The four substances tested were psilocybin, d-methamphetamine (METH), methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE), and a placebo in healthy volunteers. No significant differences of global cerebral metabolism were found in the four groups. Neurometabolic effects were found to include a significant increase of regional glucose activity in the right anterior cingulate of the brain, the right frontal operculum, and an increase in activity of the right inferior temporal region. A significant decrease in metabolism was found in the right thalamus, the left precentral region and a decrease in activity was found in the left thalamus. Overall there was a general hypermetabolism of the prefrontal region of the right hemisphere and hypometabolism in subcortical regions. During the cognitive challenge activation of the middle prefrontal cortex was eliminated and activation of Broca's area (right frontal operculum) was reduced. In a study conducted by A.M. Quetin, electrolyte levels, liver toxicity tests and blood sugar levels were shown to be