About the Guest: Dr. Charles Nichols is a professor of pharmacology at Louisiana State University. He has been studying the molecular, genetic, and behavioral effects of psychedelics for nearly 25 years and is considered one of the world’s top experts on the biological effects of psychedelics in the brain and body.
Episode Summary: Nick spoke to Dr. Nichols about a wide range of topics related to how psychedelics work. They discuss everything from how psychedelics impact the serotonin system in the brain, the similarities and differences between drugs like psilocybin and ketamine, how microdosing specific psychedelics can lead to potent anti-inflammatory effects, and much more.
Relevant Links:
Audio Clip:
Conversation Timeline:
0:00 Intro
1:18 What are psychedelics?
4:45 Psychedelic tryptamines & serotonin
8:46 The psychedelic brain receptor
13:43 Natural functions of serotonin & 5HT2A
18:15 Effect of psychedelics on brain activity
20:33 Neurogenesis & depression
24:10 Psychedelic effects vs. therapeutic effects
26:32 Psilocybin vs. ketamine for depression
28:21 Giving rats & mice psychedelics
32:52 Psychotherapy & plasticity
36:00 Long- vs. short-lasting psychedelics
38:16 How Charles got into psychedelic science
45:18 Psychedelics, inflammation, and the body
49:25 DOI, a potent psychedelic & anti-inflammatory
52:01 Psychedelics as an asthma treatment
58:46 Microdosing
1:02:06 Brain inflammation & psychiatric disorders
1:08:08 Doing science on Schedule I drugs
1:14:33 Psychedelics & psychosis
1:17:53 Are psychedelics non-toxic?
1:20:10 Scientist in an LSD study in the 60s
1:24:40 DMT facts & myths
1:33:38 Most exciting upcoming research
1:38:11 Psychedelic startups & new drug formulations
1:44:42 The future of psychedelic research
1:48:42 Final thoughts
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