# life: ghostly psyche revisited; ghosts, zombies, gris-gris, and so on ...

<< Most people imagine philosophers as rational thinkers who spend their time developing abstract logical theories and strongly reject superstitious beliefs. But several 20th-century philosophers actively investigated spooky topics such as clairvoyance, telepathy – even ghosts.

Many of these philosophers, including Henri Bergson and William James, were interested in what was called “psychical research”. This was the academic study of paranormal phenomena including telepathy, telekinesis and other-worldly spirits. These thinkers attended seances and were attempting to develop theories about ghosts, life after death and the powers exhibited by mediums in trances. >>

AA << recent archival research has been looking at how these topics shaped 20th-century philosophy. >>️

Matyas Moravec. Many important 20th-century philosophers investigated ghosts – here’s how they explained them. Oct 24, 2024. 

https://theconversation.com/many-important-20th-century-philosophers-investigated-ghosts-heres-how-they-explained-them-241635

Also: ethno, gris-gris, neuro, zombie, perception, psychedelic, delirium, in https://www.inkgmr.net/kwrds.html 

Keywords: ethno, gris-gris, neuro, zombie, perception, psychedelic, delirium 

FonT: even G.A. Romero's zombie filmography - which, as with other "spooky" themes, I have always marginalized - still seems relevant.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_A._Romero

# brain: waiting for 'magic strings', psilocybin is a 'relatively safe' drug.

<< Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are used for recreational, spiritual, self-development and therapeutic purposes. However, physiologically relatively nontoxic, adverse reactions are occasionally reported. >>

The << study investigated the 12-month prevalence and nature of magic mushroom-related adverse reactions resulting in emergency medical treatment seeking in a global sample of (9.233) people reporting magic mushroom use. >>️

️

️ << The results confirm psilocybin mushrooms are a relatively safe drug, with serious incidents rare and short lasting. Providing harm-reduction information likely plays a key role in preventing adverse effects. More research is needed to examine the detailed circumstances and predictors of adverse reactions including rarer physiological reactions. >>️

Emma I Kopra, Jason A Ferris, et al. Adverse experiences resulting in emergency medical treatment seeking following the use of magic mushrooms. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 1-9. doi: 10.1177/ 02698811221084063. 

Apr 7, 2022.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02698811221084063

<< Psilocybin is currently being investigated in clinical trials for mental health conditions across the world, including in our department, (..) It is important to draw a distinction between the use of psilocybin in clinical or research settings and recreational magic mushroom use, with partly overlapping yet distinct safety considerations and risk profiles. >> Emma Kopra. 

Beth Ellwood. Large survey suggests psilocybin is a “relatively safe” drug, with serious reactions being rare and short-lived. May 4, 2022. 

https://www.psypost.org/2022/05/large-survey-suggests-psilocybin-is-a-relatively-safe-drug-with-serious-reactions-being-rare-and-short-lived-63075

Also

keyword 'magic string' in FonT

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=magic+string

keyword 'psychedelic' in FonT

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=psychedelic

Keywords: brain, drugs, magic string, magic mushrooms, psilocybin, psychedelic

# pharma: a 'magical' (engineered) Escherichia coli to produce psychedelic psilocybin

<< Psilocybin, the prodrug of the psychoactive molecule psilocin, has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials for the treatment of addiction, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  >>

AA << present the development of a modular biosynthetic production platform in the model microbe, Escherichia coli. (..) This is the highest psilocybin titer achieved to date from a recombinant organism and a significant step towards demonstrating the feasibility of industrial production of biologically-derived psilocybin. >>

Alexandra M.Adams, Nicholas A.Kaplan, et al. In vivo production of psilocybin in E. coli. Metabolic Engineering. Volume 56, pages 111-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ymben.2019.09.009. Sep 21, 2019.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109671761930309X

Tanya Lewis. E. coli Could Produce a Popular Psychedelic for Therapeutic Use. Scientists engineered the bacterium to produce psilocybin. SCIAM. 322, 1, 16. Jan 2020.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/e-coli-could-produce-a-popular-psychedelic-for-therapeutic-use/

Also

keyword 'magic' in FonT

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=magic

# brain: naturally-occurring psychedelic DMT, a 'magic string' endogenously synthesized

AA << results show for the first time that the rat brain is capable of synthesizing and releasing DMT [N,N-dimethyltryptamine] at concentrations comparable to known monoamine neurotransmitters and raise the possibility that this phenomenon may occur similarly in human brains. >>

Jon G. Dean, Tiecheng Liu, et al.  Biosynthesis and Extracellular Concentrations of N,N- dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Mammalian Brain. Scientific Reports. volume 9, Article number: 9333 (2019).  Jun 27, 2019.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-45812-w

'Mystical' psychedelic compound found in normal brains. University of Michigan. Jun 27, 2019.

https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2019-06-mystical-psychedelic-compound-brains.html  

Also

'magic strings', in: FonT

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=magic+strings

# pharma: an ethno-drug revisited ... Ayahuasca, prelude of a "magic string" in neuropharmacology

To [AA] << knowledge, this is the first controlled trial to test a psychedelic substance in treatment-resistant depression. Overall, this study brings new evidence supporting the safety and therapeutic value of ayahuasca, dosed within an appropriate setting, to help treat depression. >>

Palhano-Fontes F, Barreto D, et al.  Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Psychol Med. 2018 Jun 15:1-9. doi: 10.1017/S0033291718001356.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29903051

<< Ayahuasca is a mixture of herbs, traditionally used for spiritual and therapeutic purposes. The main active ingredients are N,N-DMT, a potent psychedelic, and several molecules that inhibit the enzyme MAO. The MAO inhibitors serve to prevent the N,N-DMT from being broken down by the digestive system, allowing it to enter the bloodstream and cause hallucinations and other alterations of consciousness. >>

Ayahuasca, the Psychedelic Antidepressant? Neuroskeptic. June 17, 2018.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/2018/06/17/psychedelic-antidepressant-ayahuasca/

John Horgan. Yes, Make Psychedelics Legally Available, but Don't Forget the Risks. SciAm. July 6, 2018.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/yes-make-psychedelics-legally-available-but-dont-forget-the-risks/

Also:

"magic string"

# pharma: waiting for new 'magic strings': psilocybin to treat depression. Oct 17, 2017.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2017/10/pharma-waiting-for-new-strings.html

# s-brain: 70-years after; Dr. Albert revisited. Aug 22, 2016.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2016/08/s-brain-70-years-after-dr-albert.html

# s-pharma-n-ethnomed: psilocybin. Dec 14, 2015.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/2015/12/s-pharma-n-ethnomed-psilocybin.html

# drugs: they elicit experiences with the highest semantic similarity to those of dreams

AA << investigated the semantic similarity between a large number of subjective reports of psychoactive substances and reports of high/low lucidity dreams, and found that the highest-ranking substance in terms of the similarity to high lucidity dreams was the serotonergic psychedelic lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), whereas the highest-ranking in terms of the similarity to dreams of low lucidity were plants of the Datura genus, rich in deliriant tropane alkaloids. Conversely, sedatives, stimulants, antipsychotics, and antidepressants comprised most of the lowest-ranking substances. >>

AA << confirm the hypothesis that, among all psychoactive substances, hallucinogen drugs elicit experiences with the highest semantic similarity to those of dreams. >>

Camila Sanz, Enzo Tagliazucchi. The Experience Elicited by Hallucinogens Presents the Highest Similarity to Dreaming within a Large Database of Psychoactive Substance Reports.
Front. Neurosci. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00007. Jan 22, 2018.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2018.00007/full   

Eric W. Dolan. Study reveals the similarity between psychedelic states and dreaming. Feb 16, 2018.

http://www.psypost.org/2018/02/study-reveals-similarity-psychedelic-states-dreaming-50760  

# s-brain: Dr. Albert revisited (2): Psychedelic Science 2017

<< At Psychedelic Science 2017, the international scientific community came together at the Oakland Marriott City Center in Oakland, Calif., to explore new research into the benefits and risks of MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, ketamine, ibogaine, medical marijuana, and more >>

Apr. 19-24, 2017. Oakland, California, USA.

http://psychedelicscience.org/

Maurizio  Martucci. Dagli  Usa  arriva  la  conferma:  le sostanze  psichedeliche  sono  curative.  3  Mag.  2017.

http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/05/03/dagli-usa-arriva-la-conferma-le-sostanze-psichedeliche-sono-curative/3559875/

also:

# s-brain: 70-years after; Dr. Albert revisited. 22 Ago. 2016.

http://flashontrack.blogspot.it/2016/08/s-brain-70-years-after-dr-albert.html

# s-brain: 70-years after; Dr. Albert revisited

<< Treating an addiction to a mind-altering substance with another mind-altering substance might seem counterintuitive, but more and more, researchers are finding ways that psychedelic drugs like psilocybin mushrooms and party drugs like ketamine could actually help people get over alcohol and drug addictions. >>

Kevin Loria. Science Doctors are talking about using psychedelic drugs to treat alcoholics. 21 Aug 2016.

http://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-using-ketamine-lsd-and-mushrooms-to-treat-mental-illness-2016-8

Zoe  Cormier. Magic-mushroom  drug  lifts  depression  in  first  human trial. Researchers'  long  fight  to  test  psilocybin's  safety  finally  yields  fruit.  Nature.  17  May  2016. doi:10.1038/nature.2016.19919.

http://www.nature.com/news/magic-mushroom-drug-lifts-depression-in-first-human-trial-1.19919

Dr. Albert (Albert Hofmann) in: Lysergic acid diethylamide. 21 Aug 2016.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysergic_acid_diethylamide

# e-art: technoshamanism and more ... the future in music, technology, and art

<< Pollinator Synthesizer. The Pollinator Synthesizer is a generative soundscape, reacting in real time to the bees inside the Burt's Bees Observation Hive. Microphones and optical sensors detect bees moving in and out. Capacitive sensors detect presence and movement of the bees. Temperature and humidity sensors track subtle variations in the hive near the queen. All that data is interpreted into a droning ambient beefinspired soundscape. Talent: Ranjit Bhatnagar >>

https://moogfest.sched.org/mobile/

<< By day, Moogfest unfolds in venues throughout downtown Durham in spaces that range from intimate galleries and experimental art installations to grand theaters as a platform for geeky exploration and experimentation in sessions and workshops, featuring more than 250 innovators in music, art, and technology, including avant-garde pioneers such as cyborg Neil Harbisson, technoshaman paleo-ecologist/multimedia performer Michael Garfield on “Technoshamanism: A Very Psychedelic Century,”  ... >>

Moogfest  2016:  the  synthesis  of  future  music,  technology,  and  art. Themes:  Afrofuturism,  Art  and  Artificial  Intelligence,  Hacking  Sound  (Systems),  Instrument Innovators,  Radio  &  the  Radiophonic,  Technoshamanism,  Transhumanism. May  13,  2016

http://www.kurzweilai.net/moogfest-2016-the-synthesis-of-future-music-technology-and-art