Welcome to the Huberman Lab podcast, discussing science and science-based tools for everyday life. Andrew Huberman, a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine, interviews Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a distinguished professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, about the history of psychedelics and their potential as therapeutic tools for mental health.
Carhart-Harris has been at the forefront of psychedelic research and is responsible for understanding how psilocybin, LSD, and DMT change neural circuitry in the brain and how they can be used to treat major depression and expand different aspects of the human mind.
The discussion begins with exploring what psychedelics are and how they got their name. Psychedelics are a hallucinogen that can alter perception, mood, and thought. The term “psychedelic” comes from Greek words meaning “soul” and “manifesting” and was coined by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond in the 1950s.
The conversation then delves into how psychedelics affect the brain and how they can be used as a therapeutic tool. Carhart-Harris’ lab has conducted various clinical trials, some of which have demonstrated that appropriate dosages of psilocybin can alleviate major depression in more than 67% of people that take the drug. And while psychedelics are not a cure-all, they can lead to transformative experiences that can have long-term effects on mental health.
The discussion also covers the legislative and social changes surrounding psychedelics and their use as a treatment for psychiatric challenges. Carhart-Harris talks about how the laws surrounding psychedelics are evolving in the United States and elsewhere and how stakeholders are collaborating to ensure the safe use of these substances.
Huberman and Carhart-Harris also discuss the different aspects of the psychedelic journey and how those relate to therapeutic outcomes. Carhart-Harris describes how the short-term effects of a psychedelic experience can lead to long-term brain changes that can help rewire the brain for the better.
The podcast also discusses how psychedelic therapy is used to treat other psychiatric conditions, such as addiction. The conversation highlights how psychedelics can offer a new approach to healing that has been overlooked for too long in modern medicine.
Finally, the podcast discusses how psychedelics expand different aspects of the human mind, including creativity, intelligence, and much more. Carhart-Harris describes how psychedelics can help break down barriers and open up new possibilities for the individual.
Overall, this episode of the Huberman Lab podcast provides a fascinating exploration of what psychedelics are, how they affect the brain, and how they can be used as therapeutic tools. It sheds light on a topic that has been taboo for too long and offers hope for a new era of mental health and well-being.
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Summary of Transcript:
The video features host Andrew Huberman interviewing Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a distinguished professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco leading researcher in psychedelics. They discuss how psychedelics, such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT, can change neural circuitry in the brain and potentially treat psychiatric challenges like major depression through clinical trials. Dr. Carhart-Harris also explains the history of the study of psychedelics and how the legislature surrounding psychedelics is evolving in the US and elsewhere. The video is sponsored by eight sleep levels and even Ketone IQ. The hosts also announce upcoming live events.
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Summary of Description:
In this episode of the Huberman Lab Podcast, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris discusses his research on how psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT can change the human brain and be used to treat mental health challenges such as depression, anorexia, OCD, and addiction. He explains how psilocybin induces sustained changes in adaptive brain wiring and cognition and discusses the components of safe and effective psychedelic journeys, such as the role of hallucinations, the use of eye masks and music, and practical therapist support. The episode also covers micro-dosing, the legal landscape around psychedelic therapies, and the future of psychedelic treatment.
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Source Description
In this episode, my guest is Robin Carhart-Harris, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. He is one of the leading researchers in the study of how psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT can change the human brain and, in doing so, be used to successfully treat various mental health challenges such as major depression, anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction. He explains how psilocybin induces sustained changes in adaptive brain wiring and cognition. We discuss the critical components of safe and effective psychedelic journeys, the role of hallucinations, the use of eye masks to encourage people to “go internal,” and music, as well as what adequate therapist support consists of before, during, and after the session (also known as integration). We discuss micro vs. macro dosing and how researchers control for placebo effects in psychedelic research. We also discuss the current legal landscape around psychedelic therapies. Psychedelic therapies are fast emerging as powerful and soon-to-be mainstream treatments for medical health disorders, but they are not without their risks. As such, this episode should be useful to anyone interested in brain plasticity, mental health, psychology, or neuroscience.
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Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris
Academic Profile: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/robin.carhart-harris
Publications: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/robin.carhart-harris#toc-id3
Support USCF Psychedelic Research Fund: https://makeagift.ucsf.edu/site/SPageServer?pagename=A1_API_GeneralGivingForm&Other=Psychedelic%20Research%20Fund%20zzz%207031398-SFFDN
UCSF Clinical Trials Enrollment: https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/psychedelic-experiences
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RCarhartHarris
TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/MZIaTaNR3gk
Articles
Self-blinding citizen science to explore psychedelic micro dosing: https://bit.ly/3IxMrUJ
Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression: https://bit.ly/3Os2I11
Pivotal mental states: https://bit.ly/3ITFVYH
Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression: https://go.nature.com/3q4Sb1z
Structure-based discovery of non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogs: https://bit.ly/41Svyux
Self-Medication for Chronic Pain Using Classic Psychedelics: A Qualitative Investigation to Inform Future Research: https://bit.ly/3Wr1q8C
MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study: https://go.nature.com/3WqI2Zd
Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris
00:02:12 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, Levels, HVMN
00:05:41 The Brain-Body Contract
00:06:31 Origin of the Word: “Psychedelics”; Pharmacology
00:12:05 Psychedelics & Revealing the Unconscious Mind, Psychotherapy
00:17:32 Microdosing
00:26:08 Psilocybin vs. Magic Mushroom Doses
00:28:28 “Psychedelic-Therapy,” Music
00:35:12 Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)
00:36:26 Psychedelic Journey: “Trust, Let Go, Be Open.”
00:43:01 Negative Emotions, Fear & Psychedelics
00:46:21 Global Functional Connectivity, Serotonin 2A Receptor; Subjective Experiences
00:52:33 Pharmacology: Therapeutics without Psychedelic Effects; SSRIs
00:58:45 Psilocybin & Depression; Long-Term Effects: Connectivity & Neuroplasticity
01:09:14 Sponsor: LMNT
01:10:26 Psilocybin Therapy & Anorexia
01:12:56 Integration Phase & Psychedelic-Therapy; Meditation
01:19:50 First-Time Psychedelic Use, “Entropic Brain Effect,” Neuroplasticity, Cognition
01:30:16 Fibromyalgia & Psychedelic Treatment; MDMA Therapy & “Inner Healer”
01:38:55 Placebo Response & Psychedelic Therapy
01:41:39 LSD & Psychedelic Therapy, Micro-Dose
01:48:19 Combination Psilocybin-MDMA Therapy
01:56:06 DMT “Rocketship” & Serotonin 2A Receptors; Ibogaine
02:01:04 “Ego Dissolution,” Cocaine vs. Psychedelics; Relapses
02:12:26 Psychedelics & Legal Landscape; Decriminalization
02:17:54 MDMA, Trauma & Clinical Trials; Future Regulatory (FDA) Approval?
02:23:25 Psilocybin & Current Clinical Trials
02:28:41 Mental Health & Psychedelic Treatment, Safeguards, Paradigm Shift
02:34:39 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac – https://www.blabacphoto.com
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