The different types of psychedelic drugs are classified into pharmacological classes. Classic psychedelics, which include LSD and psilocybin, and dissociative psychedelics, like ketamine and dextromethorphan, have different receptor effects that lead to behavioral and subjective effects.
MDMA works on the pitcher side of the brain, leading to more release of natural endogenous neurotransmitters, while classic psychedelics work on the post-synaptic receptor side, mimicking serotonin. Psychedelics affect the relationship of time and space via altering predictions, while the effects of smoked extracts are on par with those of DMT.
This podcast discusses the profound effects of the serotonin system and dopamine system, which are neuromodulators responsible for changing the behavior of other circuits in the body. Specifically, it delves into how psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin target the serotonin system and increase the activity of particular receptors, leading to challenging preexisting models and predictions.
The speaker discusses how psychedelics and other drugs interface at the neuroscience level, including receptor level, downstream effects, neurotransmitters, and activation level effects.