Three different psychedelic drugs that are known to produce altered states of consciousness and that have been used illegally for recreation are the subject of a new study. Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound that is produced by magic mushrooms, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and ketamine are the subjects of the new study. Researchers set out to determine if magic mushrooms, LSD and ketamine actually increase "global neural signal diversity." The researchers wanted to know if the psychedelic state is actually an elevated state of consciousness. The research was published this month in Scientific Reports in Nature.
As part of Scientific Reports, Nature users are able to openly discuss the findings. One reader points out that ketamine, unlike magic mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs, is actually addictive. The researchers themselves pointed out, "For parsimony, ketamine is referred to as a 'psychedelic', while acknowledging that its pharmacology and subjective effects are somewhat different to those of the 'classic' serotonergic psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin."