Chemistry of Psilocybin and Synaptic Transmitters Involved
Psilocybin is a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that is
ingested by eating the raw fungi. The mushroom can also be made
into a tea and drunk. In some of the later studies done on
psilocybin, the drug was synthetically produced and then either
inhaled or injected by an IV. The drug enters the blood stream
and can cross the blood brain barrier because of it relative
metabolic similarity to serotonin (Fuller 1985). This means that
since psilocybin is chemical resemblance to the neurotransmitter
serotonin, psilocybin can trick the protein channels embedded in
the membrane of the blood vessel and pass through as if it were
serotonin and not a drug. Psilocybin (4phosphodimethyltryptamine
or N, N dimethyltryptamine (DMT)) is a naturally occurring
indoleamine hallucinogen and is metabolized to psilocin after
ingestion (Umbricht, Koller, Vollenweider, Schmid, 2001).
Psilocin is the active chemical in the plant and it is what
causes hallucinations and other behavioral changes in the
individual taking the substance. It is stated that psilocybin is
used in research because it is short-acting, naturally occurring
and draws less attention then other well-know hallucinogens
(Strassman 1996). There are not many studies done with human
subjects so the majority of data has been collected with animals
(rats in particular). In many articles the effects, both
neurological and behavioral are likened to the effects of the
hallucinogen LSD.
The hallucinogen psilocybin is considered to be a monoamine
related substance that is mediated by the effects of activity by
serotonergic systems in the central nervous system (Grilly
1998). When talking about the serotonergic systems that are
affected by the drug Psilocybin the research is focusing on the
central systems and not the periphery nerve networks. The drug
is considered to be part of the indolealkylamine group and is
classified in the chemical class of tryptamines. A number of
indolealkylamines that are hallucinogenic can be divided into
three basic groups, tryptamine derivatives, beta-carbolines, and
lysergic acid derivatives (Glennon 1985, Nichols and Glennon
1984). Psilocybin is tryptamine derived. The indole nucleus of
serotonin is commonly found in the chemical class of tryptamines
(Abraham, Aldridge, Gogia 1996). Psilocybin in one of the best
studied tryptamine derivatives and is related to other
indolealkylamines that are derived from various plants (Nichols
and Glennon 1996).
During a visit to Mexico, Gordon Wasson, a mycologist, discovered the use of psilocybin mushroom in spiritual ceremonies by Indian tribes. Upon experiencing the spiritual and hallucinatory effects of the mushroom, Wasson returned to the area accompanied by an experienced mycologist, Roger Heim, who managed to cultivate the mushroom once in France and send samples of it to the scientist who had discovered lysergic acid, Albert Hoffman. From the mushrooms, Hoffman successfully isolated two compounds which he further named psilocybin and psilocin. Analogs of these compounds were further synthesized and were employed mainly for psychotherapeutic uses. Many tests on psilocybin were made at Harvard University in the early 1960’s. However, along with LSD, psilocybin became a scheduled substance in 1970, making it illegal. During this time, psilocybin mushrooms became a part of the psychedelic and hippy movement and were used for recreational and spiritual purposes. Research on psilocybin ended in the late 1980’s because of strict rules imposed by the government but recently scientist have started researching on this chemical once more.
Primarily, in December 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese and was the time span with full integration of the United States. As a result, the U.S military proliferated male work force to accumulate ranks. America was in desperation for factory out out and military equipment increased. Many adversities agencies, one specifically J.Walter Thompson, assisted the United States government with c...
In a young boy’s life, making the morally right choice can be difficult especially when the choice goes against someone that is suppose to be respected, such as a parent. “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner is a coming of age story about a son of a poor and evil sharecropper. Showing the difference between good and evil, Faulkner uses character descriptions and plot, revealing Sarty’s struggles’s as he chooses between making the morally right decision or to be loyal to a dishonest father.
In conclusion, plagiarism is dishonest and should never be done no matter what. When you plagiarize, you are taking a risk and there are serious consequences.
This story follows the typical format and is narrated in the third person. In the exposition, Faulkner’s skill as a writer is demonstrated through the way that he uses detail to draw the readers into the story. Also, in the first paragraph we are introduced to the main character and protagonist in the story, Sarty. The setting in which Sarty’s conflict is established is a trial. In the trial, the justice asks Sarty, “ I reckon any boy named for Colonel Sartoris in this country can’t help but tell the truth, can they” (qtd. in...
Overall, Plagiarism is something that no one should take part in. Not only is it wrong, but can lead to many consequences that can affect your life greatly. Being knowledgeable of the types of plagiarism and the consequences is a very effective way of staying away from it. Although plagiarism may seem easier and a faster way to get your work done it is not the way to go. Staying original and being creative with your own ideas is something to be proud of.
At one point or another in life, everyone has to make decisions that change one's life forever. Usually one encounters an event or a thing that propels such a decision. In William Faulkner's short story, "Barn Burning," Sarty, a young boy, is going through a period of initiation into adult life. During this process, he has to make a life altering decision. For Sarty, his father's fires become the element that plays many roles and eventually drives him to decide the path of his life.
Hilton Worldwide carries out business through three segments: (1) management and franchise; (2) ownership; and (3) time-share. These business segments enable management to capitalize on strengths like brand recognition and economies of scale. The company focuses primarily on the management and franchise segment which consist of 3,918 hotels with 610,413 rooms. Managing the properties, rather than owning them, allows the company t...
Eating has taken its toll on people who live in the United States. One of the largest problems that people have is deciding how much to eat and what is healthy to eat. It was determined in the 1930s-1940s that the brain has a tremendous impact in controlling our eating habits. The main part of the brain, which controls this, is the hypothalamus. Basically, the hypothalamus measures different levels through out the body, especially in the stomach, to determine if our body needs food, which causes the sensation of hunger.
Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning,” captures the intensity and dynamics of a father and son relationship. The story is set in the Old South, where the dry farming grounds of the plantations are the only places that promise hardworking men a means to support their families. Though Faulkner presents these two man characters as vastly different, the father, Abner, and the son, Sarty, share a striking similarity. They both see themselves as victims and display the traits of a victim’s status. The father is a victim of social injustice and poverty. The son, on the other hand, is a victim of child abuse at the hand of his controlling and impulsive father. Faulkner sets the tone of the story by displaying the strategies of the victims and the complexity of their abuse through the narrator’s voice.
Have you ever known someone who plagiarized, either unknowingly or intentionally? Have you? It is very to plagiarize, today in a world of technology. Sadly enough, many people don't even know what it truly is, which can sometimes lead to plagiarizing without knowing it. There are many different ways to plagiarize, but all are wrong and unjust. Whether someone does it unintentionally or deliberately, plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism should be corrected, fixed, and deleted before any damage is done.
N,N-dimethyltryptamine(DMT) is a psychoactive chemical in the tryptamine family, which causes intense visuals and strong psychedelic mental affects when smoked, injected, snorted, or when swallowed orally (with an MAOI such as haramaline). DMT was first synthesized in 1931, and demonstrated to be hallucinogenic in 1956. It has been shown to be present in many plant genera (Acacia, Anadenanthera, Mimosa, Piptadenia, Virola) and is a major component of several hallucinogenic snuffs (cohoba, parica, yopo). It is also present in the intoxicating beverage ayahuasca made from banisteriopsis caapi. This drink inspired much rock art and paintings drawn on the walls of native shelters in tribal Africa- what would be called 'psychedelic' art today (Bindal, 1983). The mechanism of action of DMT and related compounds is still a scientific mystery, however DMT has been identified as an endogenous psychadelic- it is a neurotransmitter found naturally in the human body and takes part in normal brain metabolism. Twenty-five years ago, Japanese scientists discovered that the brain actively transports DMT across the blood-brain barrier into its tissues. "I know of no other psychedelic drug that the brain treats with such eagerness," said one of the scientists. What intrigued me were the questions, how and why does DMT alter our percep...
Plagiarism can be defined in multiple forms, most think of it as just copying and pasting someone else’s work, though this is not the case. Plagiarism can be simply defined by using another author's work, without proper approval or recognition. While plagiarism is not always intentional and often done mistakenly, it is still wrong morally and ethically. This is a frequent problem in many learning institutions, and often in workplace environments. There is a spectrum of plagiarism that is broken down into ten sections, each of these sections ranging from severity such as copying and pasting to paraphrasing from multiple sources. The Turnitin Plagiarism Spectrum is a helpful tool for many with literary needs, and can be used to verify the originality of one’s work. One must remain aware of the spectrum’s definition
The hotel industry performs within a saturated market, driven by customer loyalty and competitive pricing to stand-out. This competitive nature makes it extremely important to capitalise on strengths while improving on
...by its boundaries” (Hoover 9). We hesitate to take a step back, look at the whole picture, and regain full composure. After all we are the products of lifetime conditioning, as it relates to our emotional and thought patterns.