DMT

Question 1

What does DMT stand for?

Answer 1

Dimethyltryptamine (businessman’s LSD)

Question 2

What kind of chemical is DMT and where is it naturally found?

Answer 2

it is an alkaloid in the tryptamine family found in tree bark (mimosa hostilis)

Question 3

What is DMT structurally similar to and what does this imply?

Answer 3

• similar to serotonin

- implies similar transport and enzymatic functions (important to understanding activation)

Question 4

What is DMT functionally similar to and what does this imply?

Answer 4

• similar to psilocybin

- implies a similar mechanism of action (s.o.a) (important to understanding effects)

Question 5

What is structure-activity relationship?

Answer 5

• relationship between a chemical’s structure and biological activity
• modification allows for changes in effectiveness or potency

Question 6

What aspects are endemic to human body/function?

Answer 6

1) present in other animals
2) tryptamines are naturally synthesized into serotonin
3) synthesis in cancerous human cells observed in laboratory settings
4) facilitation of immune response on endemic receptors

Question 7

What is the general function of DMT?

Answer 7

• agonist

- tryptamine: serotonin norepinephrine dopamine releasing agent

Question 8

What neurotransmitter, soa, and effect occurs in stage 1 of DMT?

Answer 8

• dopamine (sigma 1)
• insula
• auditory hallucinations

Question 9

What neurotransmitter, soa, and effect occurs in stage 2 of DMT?

Answer 9

• dopamine (sigma 1)
• amygdala
• “waiting room”: animated suspension (physical fear response and psychological startle response)

Question 10

What neurotransmitter, soa, and effect occurs in stage 3 of DMT?

Answer 10

• serotonin (5-HT 2A and 5-HT 2C)
• prefrontal cortex
• “DMT Hyperspace”: Machine elves

Question 11

How is DMT taken?

Answer 11

• inhalation, injection

- ingestion

Question 12

What is the problem with ingesting DMT and how do people get around that?

Answer 12

• MAO deactivates DMT in liver

- ingest MAO inhibitor (Ayahuasca)

Question 13

What does ayahuasca result in?

Answer 13

• longer highs
• similar experience to psilocybin (more intense)
• la purga
• no dietary restrictions

Question 14

Does DMT cause tolerance?

Answer 14

• acute debated

- LSD cross tolerance with DMT (take LSD then DMT, don’t feel DMT)

Question 15

Does DMT result in dependence?

Answer 15

• no observable physical

- psychological in question

Question 16

What are the two therapeutic uses of DMT?

Answer 16

1) The Hoasca project

2) Insight-oriented psychotherapy

Question 17

What is the Hoasca project?

Answer 17

• compared/matched up 40 ayahausca-sect adolescence to controls
• measured different mental disorders
• ayahuasca 7x lower incidence

Question 18

What is insight-oriented psychotherapy?

Answer 18

• behavioural/cognitive restructuring
• PTSD, phobia, anxiety (rationalization, cognitive restructuring)
• Depression, addiction (insight)

Question 19

What biological features of DMT allows it to be therapeutic?

Answer 19

• Frontal lobe (perception/reasoning), insula (emotions/cognitions), amygdala (affect, negative)
• brings forth traumatic experience
• elicits multiplicity of perspectives/perceptions
• hyperactivation allows for hebbia synapses