A qualitative report on the subjective experience of intravenous psilocybin administered in an FMRI environment
This interview study (n=15) investigated the phenomenology of individuals under the acute influence of psilocybin (intravenously injected -; quicker onset) in an fMRI scanner.
Authors
- Robin Carhart-Harris
- David Nutt
Published
Abstract
Background
This report documents the phenomenology of the subjective experiences of 15 healthy psychedelic experienced volunteers who were involved in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study that was designed to image the brain effects of intravenous psilocybin.
Methods
The participants underwent a semi-structured interview exploring the effects of psilocybin in the MRI scanner. These interviews were analysed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The resultant data is ordered in a detailed matrix, and presented in this paper.
Results
Nine broad categories of phenomenology were identified in the phenomenological analysis of the experience; perceptual changes including visual, auditory and somatosensory distortions, cognitive changes, changes in mood, effects of memory, spiritual or mystical type experiences, aspects relating to the scanner and research environment, comparisons with other experiences, the intensity and onset of effects, and individual interpretation of the experience.
Discussion
This article documents the phenomenology of psilocybin when given in a novel manner (intravenous injection) and setting (an MRI scanner). The findings of the analysis are consistent with previous published work regarding the subjective effects of psilocybin. There is much scope for further research investigating the phenomena identified in this paper.
Research Summary of 'A qualitative report on the subjective experience of intravenous psilocybin administered in an FMRI environment'
Introduction
Psilocybin is the active component of so‑called magic mushrooms and acts primarily at serotonin receptors (notably 5HT2A, 5HT2C and 5HT1A). Earlier clinical and anecdotal literature documented a wide range of subjective effects including visual distortions, changes in time perception, alterations of mood and cognition, mystical‑type experiences and occasional lasting personal meaning. Much of that historical research was curtailed by legal restrictions, and contemporary studies tend to quantify experience using psychometric instruments (for example the 5D‑ASC and Hallucinogen Rating Scale). The authors note that such scales may constrain reporting and miss uncommon effects or the influence of unusual settings. This report describes an exploratory phenomenological investigation of 15 volunteers with prior psychedelic experience who received intravenous psilocybin while undergoing functional MRI. Turton and colleagues set out to document, in participants' own words and through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the subjective structure of the psilocybin experience when delivered intravenously in the scanner environment, and to compare these reports with those in the existing literature. The study aims to highlight reproducible experiential categories and to identify phenomena warranting further focused qualitative or neurobiological investigation.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compound
- Topic
- Authors
- APA Citation
Turton, S., Nutt, D., & Carhart-Harris, R. (2015). A qualitative report on the subjective experience of intravenous psilocybin administered in an FMRI environment. Current Drug Abuse Reviews, 7(2), 117-127. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874473708666150107120930
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