In this secondary analysis, the experience of music was altered by LSD (100μg) (tonal-tracking bias) as recorded by blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=25).
Abstract of Serotonin 2A receptor signaling underlies LSD-induced alteration of the neural response to dynamic changes in music
“Classic psychedelic drugs (serotonin 2A, or 5HT2A, receptor agonists) have notable effects on music listening. In the current report, blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal was collected during music listening in 25 healthy adults after administration of placebo, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and LSD pretreated with the 5HT2A antagonist ketanserin, to investigate the role of 5HT2A receptor signaling in the neural response to the time-varying tonal structure of music. Tonality-tracking analysis of BOLD data revealed that 5HT2A receptor signaling alters the neural response to music in brain regions supporting basic and higher-level musical and auditory processing, and areas involved in memory, emotion, and self-referential processing. This suggests a critical role of 5HT2A receptor signaling in supporting the neural tracking of dynamic tonal structure in music, as well as in supporting the associated increases in emotionality, connectedness, and meaningfulness in response to music that are commonly observed after the administration of LSD and other psychedelics. Together, these findings inform the neuropsychopharmacology of music perception and cognition, meaningful music listening experiences, and altered perception of music during psychedelic experiences.”
Authors: Frederick S. Barrett, Katrin H. Preller, Marcus Herdener, Petr Janata & Franz X. Vollenweider
Notes on Serotonin 2A receptor signaling underlies LSD-induced alteration of the neural response to dynamic changes in music
The study analysed data from the participants involved in a trial from Preller et al. (2017).
This study was supported in part by the Usona Institute and the Heffter Research Institute.
Summary of Serotonin 2A receptor signaling underlies LSD-induced alteration of the neural response to dynamic changes in music
Classic psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), have substantial effects on perception, cognition, and emotional experience, including the perception of music.
Psychedelics alter the perception of sensory stimuli, such as music, but also alter the functioning of brain areas involved in processing the meaningfulness of stimuli, such as memory, emotions, self-referential processing, and visualization.
Music has played a key role in psychedelic therapy and research for many decades, and is currently used in best practices for safe conduct of a session.
Find this paper
https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhx257
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Cite this paper (APA)
Barrett, F. S., Preller, K. H., Herdener, M., Janata, P., & Vollenweider, F. X. (2018). Serotonin 2A receptor signaling underlies LSD-induced alteration of the neural response to dynamic changes in music. Cerebral Cortex, 28(11), 3939-3950.
Study details
Compounds studied
LSD
Topics studied
Music
Healthy Subjects
Study characteristics
Placebo-Controlled
Double-Blind
Randomized
Re-analysis
Bio/Neuro
Participants
22
Humans
Institutes
Institutes associated with this publication
University of ZurichWithin the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics at the University of Zurich, Dr Mialn Scheidegger is leading team conducting psychedelic research and therapy development.
Compound Details
The psychedelics given at which dose and how many times
LSD 100 μg | 1x
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