3 ms·

> the brain undergoes a series of changes, including a massive release of glutamate and a surge in gamma and beta waves, potentially linked to near-death experi

> the brain undergoes a series of changes, including a massive release of glutamate and a surge in gamma and beta waves, potentially linked to near-death experiences. Speculating: does the above correlate with what we’d expect to see if the brain dumps an amount of endogenous n,n-DMT during death?

huppeldepup 3y ago
The "massive release in glutamate" reminds me of some references I read wrt Glutamatergic Storm or Excitotoxicity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4133642/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4133642/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excitotoxicity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excitotoxicity So is the glutamate spike the cause or the effect in this story?
dj_mc_merlin 3y ago
This is similar to DMT: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2218949120 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2218949120 > Consistent with previous DMT study findings (32, 39), static analyses revealed widespread decreases in alpha power under DMT (P < 0.01, cluster corrected), and increases in both delta (P < 0.05, cluster corrected) and gamma bands (P < 0.01, cluster corrected). DMT and otherpsychedelics are also influenced by glutamate: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7547711/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7547711/ > Following a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design, we utilized an ultra-high field multimodal brain imaging approach and demonstrated that psilocybin (0.17 mg/kg) induced region-dependent alterations in glutamate, which predicted distortions in the subjective experience of one’s self (ego dissolution). Whereas higher levels of medial prefrontal cortical glutamate were associated with negatively experienced ego dissolution, lower levels in hippocampal glutamate were associated with positively experienced ego dissolution. Other forces seem at play as well. When I almost drowned I definitely experienced positive ego dissolution -- you feel at peace with the idea you might die. So it can't be that simple.

huppeldepup 3y ago

The "massive release in glutamate" reminds me of some references I read wrt Glutamatergic Storm or Excitotoxicity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4133642/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4133642/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excitotoxicity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excitotoxicity So is the glutamate spike the cause or the effect in this story?

dj_mc_merlin 3y ago

This is similar to DMT: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2218949120 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2218949120 > Consistent with previous DMT study findings (32, 39), static analyses revealed widespread decreases in alpha power under DMT (P < 0.01, cluster corrected), and increases in both delta (P < 0.05, cluster corrected) and gamma bands (P < 0.01, cluster corrected). DMT and otherpsychedelics are also influenced by glutamate: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7547711/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7547711/ > Following a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design, we utilized an ultra-high field multimodal brain imaging approach and demonstrated that psilocybin (0.17 mg/kg) induced region-dependent alterations in glutamate, which predicted distortions in the subjective experience of one’s self (ego dissolution). Whereas higher levels of medial prefrontal cortical glutamate were associated with negatively experienced ego dissolution, lower levels in hippocampal glutamate were associated with positively experienced ego dissolution. Other forces seem at play as well. When I almost drowned I definitely experienced positive ego dissolution -- you feel at peace with the idea you might die. So it can't be that simple.