Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain • Hacker News Board

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#11

Post by jkingsman » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 5:39 PM UTC

herodoturtle wrote: post #7

jklinger410 wrote: post #5

[flagged]

I read this and it instantly “clicked” - thank you for the analogy. I must ask, is this based on scientific evidence?

This study would certainly seem to indicate that this is at least true in some form — the study shows that parts of the brain that are typically very well correlated with each other (one fires then the other fires, or they fire together) come uncoupled from each other under the influence of psilocybin.

I'm not sure it could be correctly stated in the gross sense as "jumbling it up and making it re-build," but there certainly is a shift in how the brain's components work together for the duration of the drug's effects, per this study.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#12

Post by notnaut » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 5:53 PM UTC

While the analogies are often useful, everyone reading HN comments should be very aware and very skeptical of just how often computer/tech people rely on computer/tech analogies to understand things that are fundamentally not computers/tech.

It is very very easy for smart people with functionally specific jobs/hobbies/ways of thinking to see all reality through that narrow window. It often leads to important details being glossed over or entirely missed. The more self-confident ones quickly start seeing the analogies as fundamental facts, usually with negative consequences like loss of empathy or a tendency to see big picture generalizations as specific universal truths.

Mushrooms have had a similar effect on me at times. You can start feeling like you KNOW big sweeping Truths. Similar to religiously “knowing” something. And that feeling of knowing is hard to overcome. But it is just a feeling.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#13

Post by codr7 » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 5:55 PM UTC

notnaut wrote: post #12

While the analogies are often useful, everyone reading HN comments should be very aware and very skeptical of just how often computer/tech people rely on computer/tech analogies to understand things that are fundamentally not computers/tech. It is very very easy for smart people with functionally specific jobs/hobbies/ways of thinking to see all reality through that narrow window. It often leads to important details…

I would argue it's way more meaningful...

It's unconscious knowledge; maybe not ready to hit the surface yet, but still actively affecting your life from within.

Whatever glimpses you get is just what you're capable of dealing with atm. Everybody's experience is different.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#14

Post by philip1209 » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 5:57 PM UTC

Cool paper.

I know some tech people have been donating to psilocybin research - is there any apparent connection to this study?

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#15

Post by jdietrich » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 6:03 PM UTC

philip1209 wrote: post #14

Cool paper. I know some tech people have been donating to psilocybin research - is there any apparent connection to this study?

No.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07624-5#Ack1

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#16

Post by throwaway_82467 » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 6:04 PM UTC

notnaut wrote: post #12

While the analogies are often useful, everyone reading HN comments should be very aware and very skeptical of just how often computer/tech people rely on computer/tech analogies to understand things that are fundamentally not computers/tech. It is very very easy for smart people with functionally specific jobs/hobbies/ways of thinking to see all reality through that narrow window. It often leads to important details…

I'm convinced this is actually a symptom of using psychedelics.

Ironically, using quite a lot of anec-data, there definitely seems to be a correlation between use of psychedelics among myself/peers and how "suggestible" people are. I've seen a lot of folks go really deep in conspiracy theories (regardless of the political/social positioning), strong religious beliefs, or similar such lines-of-thought that require a "leap of faith" or reasoning-by-analogy. Overall I believe that something about taking them puts you into a state of mind that is more "open", and therefore, more "gullible" to believe that you are latching onto some profound truth or significant idea.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#17

Post by TechDebtDevin » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 6:04 PM UTC

PSA: My buddy shot himself in the head while we were on shrooms in our twenties. He thought he meant God, took a shower picked up a gun and shot himself in the head.

While I've had trips since then and do get benefits from those experiences. People without experience should be careful, especially if you have a history of mental illness. He did have a history to some degree but not overtly.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#18

Post by bubblyworld » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 6:04 PM UTC

notnaut wrote: post #12

While the analogies are often useful, everyone reading HN comments should be very aware and very skeptical of just how often computer/tech people rely on computer/tech analogies to understand things that are fundamentally not computers/tech. It is very very easy for smart people with functionally specific jobs/hobbies/ways of thinking to see all reality through that narrow window. It often leads to important details…

I've had similar experiences on mushrooms (and high doses of marijuana too, to a lesser extent). It feels like a mix of intense awe and the the satisfactory "click" of finally understanding something to me. I'm quite sure it's more of an emotional state than "fundamental truth", or anything like that, but it sure is powerful.

Very easy to understand how mythology can build around the stuff.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#19

Post by JohnMakin » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 6:10 PM UTC

TechDebtDevin wrote: post #17

PSA: My buddy shot himself in the head while we were on shrooms in our twenties. He thought he meant God, took a shower picked up a gun and shot himself in the head. While I've had trips since then and do get benefits from those experiences. People without experience should be careful, especially if you have a history of mental illness. He did have a history to some degree but not overtly.

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Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#20

Post by bubblyworld » Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 6:13 PM UTC

throwaway_82467 wrote: post #16

notnaut wrote: post #12

While the analogies are often useful, everyone reading HN comments should be very aware and very skeptical of just how often computer/tech people rely on computer/tech analogies to understand things that are fundamentally not computers/tech. It is very very easy for smart people with functionally specific jobs/hobbies/ways of thinking to see all reality through that narrow window. It often leads to important details…

I'm convinced this is actually a symptom of using psychedelics. Ironically, using quite a lot of anec-data, there definitely seems to be a correlation between use of psychedelics among myself/peers and how "suggestible" people are. I've seen a lot of folks go really deep in conspiracy theories (regardless of the political/social positioning), strong religious beliefs, or similar such lines-of-thought that require a "…

I've never been sure which way the causation goes (if any), but I've known three people so far who had psychotic breaks after an intense mushroom trip. Similar to what you wrote - a sudden obsession with conspiracy theories and/or intense religious persuasions. Something they all had in common was being very confident and self-assured to begin with, which makes me wonder if it's particularly risky for those kinds of people? They all recovered, fortunately.