Psychedelics expert Dr Robin Carhart-Harris on what exactly happens to the brain on a trip

Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, Director of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, explains the chemical processes that occur in the brain during a psychedelic trip in this sample from the Idler Online Course, "The Science of Psychedelics".
ABOUT THE COURSE
Join Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, as he takes you on a trip through the science of psychedelics.
In six lectures, beginning with a lesson on how psychedelic substances work in the brain, you’ll be guided through the past and present of psychedelic research. On the way, you’ll celebrate “Bicycle Day”, see how scientists are using cutting-edge brain-scanning techniques to understand what happens when we trip, and get up to date on the latest breakthroughs in the use of psychedelic substances like psilocybin to treat depression and other conditions.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to tell psilocybin from DMT and mescaline from LSD, you’ll understand the chemical processes that trigger a trip, and you’ll be an expert in the contemporary arguments over legalisation.
MORE FROM THIS COURSE
You can purchase Dr. Carhart Harris's entire six video course on the Science of Psychedelics here: bit.ly/sciencepsyche
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Robin Carhart-Harris is the Head of the Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London and one of today’s leading voices in psychopharmacology.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL
Subscribe to the Idler KZbin channel here: kzbin.info...
JOIN THE IDLER
To join the Idler Academy and gain access to our range of over 50 online courses, visit here:
bit.ly/idleracademyjoin
FURTHER READING
You can read a transcript of Idler editor Tom Hodgkinson in conversation with Dr Carhart-Harris at the 2018 Idler Festival here: bit.ly/rchinterview
You can read a transcript of Idler editor Tom Hodgkinson's conversation with Dr Carhart-Harris about the legalisation of psychedelics here : bit.ly/psycheblog
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: / idleracademy
Twitter: / idler
Instagram: / idleracademy
Subscribe to our Mailing List: eepurl.com/bnnFn1

[@freeri87]

Robin Carhart-Harris on the Making Sense Podcast. Make it happen!

[@johnkeleher5563]

I've heard so many wonderful things about magic mushrooms but I can't easily get some, Is there any realiable source I can purchase from??

[@annamason3087]

I'm so interested in the experience but am terrified of having a bad trip

[@sebastianfelipe515]

I did two grams last time, it was a thrilling experience and I enjoyed it

[@odentenzin3129]

(dream.spores). jason Got psych's*

[@annamason3087]

This whole thing is pretty new to me, can I try 3grams?

[@sebastianfelipe515]

@@odentenzin3129 where to search? Is it IG ??

[@captainyossarian388]

What a charming scientist who is pretty clearly well versed and passionate about this area of study. Talk shows and pod casts should be booking him to spread the word of how important it is to study psychedelics and debunk the ridiculously short sighted forbidden taboo around them.

[@EnriqueLewis-eq8gv]

Hit them up on TELEGRAM @

[@EnriqueLewis-eq8gv]

TRIPTREAT

[@brownell.landrum]

I went through a Bufo experience last weekend (legally) in Barcelona. Writing up my notes now. This video was a HUGE help going in.

[@TheIdlerAcademy]

I'm so pleased. It's an important watch. Hope all went well.

[@bensto8979]

Dr Carthart-Harris gives a very interesting and informative explanation about how psychedelics work in the brain. I think it is very important to explain psychedelics in a scientific context; all too often the spiritual language of the 60's can alienate a lot of people and represent psychedelics as pseudo science. Both ways of speaking about the subject are important, but I hope the language stays balanced and grounded at this pivotal time.

[@EnriqueLewis-eq8gv]

TRIPTREAT

[@restorationofidentity]

I do Hope robin gets the chance of writing a book on psychedelics.. he's rational and easy to understand. No new age crap.. just simple science.

[@BushyHairedStranger]

Sankar. If you’re interested in the “protoplasmic science of LSD” look up Sankar full study information on LSD. It’s a good place to start.

[@akbk2505]

What psychedelics teach us: it is not about the ratio or being rational. The language is feeling and love.

[@restorationofidentity]

@@akbk2505 regardless if it's love or not. It's still a biological process. No getting away from the realistic approach. Brain and nervous system is key to feeling this experience..

[@akbk2505]

@@restorationofidentity then tell me: what IS reality?

[@restorationofidentity]

@@akbk2505The universe is under no obligation to show us via direct first person experience how the whole god dame thing operates. It's all guess work from introspection. Helpful but no guarantees. Scientific research is our best shot. We humans are typical always anthropologic when it comes to thinking we are special. Well we're not. There's no evidence and no one has ever proven that a supernatural God is responsible for our well being. Even if God is real well the he can kiss my ass. I wouldn't want anything to do with this almighty force lol.. (Stephen fry) spoke about the stupidity of these mad beliefs.. he's amazing.. don't care what any of you religous folks think. All you are wanting is to visit your dead grand parents/family what ever in the afterlife. It all comes down subconsciously to a fundamental compounant of a belief in the afterlife. Simple really.

[@PsytranceGOUGAS]

Love the way this guy explains things. Level headed presenter.

[@CanadianBear47]

watching him explain is so wonderful. not only info i have been looking for and also just love that he would explain it to us lamens. understanding and love

[@drpablovazquez]

Excelent material to disclosure the science and therapeutics of psychedelics. Thaks Robin. Greetings.

[@bronktug2446]

Wow! This a gem of knowledge!

[@m.w.nettles6075]

I have no experience with DMT but have read Dr. Strassman's book and have been fascinated by the "entity" contacts so often reported. In my research i came across a study which demonstrated that DMT had protective qualities for cells in a hypoxic state (low O2). This and the ineffable quality of reported experiences along with the themes of "we are glad you are here" or "we have so much to teach you" that show up with entities in so many reports suggest that endogenous DMT is related to birth and not death. The neuroprotective quality against hypoxia would be very useful as a newborn passes through the birth canal. The "entities" that are so hard to describe in words may very well be vivid pre-verbal memories of our caregivers from early infancy triggered by DMT. So we may have all been flooded with DMT at birth, and the residual bits are from that breakdown over time in our earliest years. Just a theory that makes sense to me.

[@jasons8668]

How does this have no comments and 282 views? Good for you, Robin.

[@bigbadbith8422]

Jason S - because the sky is very big ......😍

[@ems7623]

It is likely too scientific for many viewers. Psychedelic fans only sometimes want to get into this level of understanding of the mechanics of their mystical experiences.

[@ems7623]

This is such a nice change from the amateurish content on psychedelics that populate most of the internet. I've no problem with psychedelic enthusiasts (In some ways, I admire them in fact.) However, they aren't necessarily the best people to take advice from if you want to understand what is actually happening in the brain or how exactly psychedelics might interact with your own brain whether you are non-neurotypical, mentally ill, or otherwise "differently wired." I think I would rather enjoy a long conversation with Dr. Carhart-Harris, though my Ph.D. is in the humanities and my interest in psychedelics is a vague mix of intellectual, historical and personal. I quite admire his approach and his clarity. I would add that he does have the perfect voice should he ever wish to be a "trip-sitting" guide in a psychedelic therapy session. Incredible soothing and calm voice.

[@mrs_Mccoy]

I'd appreciate your comment

[@mrs_Mccoy]

I bought some psychedelic products from a Drugstore online

[@mrs_Mccoy]

They are on Instagram

[@mrs_Mccoy]

FROM TRIP_PHARMACIST

[@bronktug2446]

Thank you Dr.Robin this has been very informative! I’d love to hear more!

[@dahalofreeek]

You can buy a whole series of these, check the description.

[@drpablovazquez]

@@dahalofreeek the online course, yes, thanks

[@TeleCarlitos]

Extremely informative and enjoyable, to a person like me. Robin is one cool neuroscientist!

[@jaygerlach6884]

Dr. Carhart-Harris for me is the best at conveying the scientific information into language that I can understand. These last 2 weeks, I may have watched dam near every video that has him presenting his information. lol From the conferences that go back to 2016 up to the most recent. I especially loved the video with him and Michael Pollan

[@kelleroper3490]

I totally agree with you! I have watched them all too he’s the best at explaining👍

[@PrimeMatt]

Absolute top man! 👌🏼

[@Yer_Da_]

What a legend

[@cutthecord1]

Please post the next episode

[@Tq78]

Raging I haven’t come across this man before. Very thankful I have done now!

[@mrs_Mccoy]

I bought some from a online store

[@mrs_Mccoy]

From Trip_Mycologist

[@mrs_Mccoy]

In INSTAGRAM

[@ems7623]

Isn't he a charmer? I really admire him and what he does.

[@Earthad23]

“You” are not a set of neurons firing. “You” are the awareness of it.

[@steveygruss]

Joe Rogan 📞

[@padraigcarroll]

100%!!!!!

[@thenorthernnomads1768]

YES

[@padraigcarroll]

#Awesome.

[@davidfarrell7373]

A true trailblazer. I believe his work will revolutionize how we treat a range of mental health issues. I am concerned about the kick back from the mainstream and big pharma but the truth will prevail.

[@sebastiancano3987]

Joyita el Robin Carhart-Harris

[@johnkuthe1]

I have had LSD and Psilocybin and both are very similar in their effects. :-)

[@joshuabolin4440]

Take a moment to reflect on the fact that if you’re caught with one of these psychedelic medicines, you can be locked in a cage for the rest of your life. Completely unacceptable.

[@MrMichelFoucault]

Radom question: How does (holotropic) breathwork then initiate that same altered state ?

[@PrimeMatt]

Where are the other parts?

[@tinkertime577]

Dr. Robin-Carhart Harris, Dr. David Nutt, and Amanda Fielding, the three musketeers of LSD.

[@djordjevolarevic3872]

He may be an expert in talking about psychedelics, but there are no "psychedelics experts", this is just the beginning

[@Akshay-xo1se]

No it is what it is

[@heath3546]

Is it possible during a PTSD experience that 2a receptor is being used then. To help the organism survive the incident by dissociative activity. !?

[@maximuswohler7467]

What's the red book called on the bottom of the pile and one got good enough eyes

[@yvindschjelderup7906]

Hi, do you have an educational program I can attend?

[@bath_neon_classical]

Great stuff. I have had a personal experience of psychosis cured by large dose psilo, but i think for the wider population the most benefit of drugs like psilo and lsd will be from comparatively small microdoses. I think that gently increasing the levels of 5ht2a receptor agonists can help mood and attention without any tripping being necessary. don s del c-p

[@bath_neon_classical]

i also need some help with my psychedelic prologemena. i have the whole thing written in my head, where it is probably going to stay until i partner with some serious minded person or institution. its 5ht3a specific and also seems to fit well for seretonin. a seretonin specific metaphysic.

[@mrs_Mccoy]

@Stephanie Hughes okay, thank you for the info

[@heath3546]

The additional evidence of neural plasticity of the serotonin would increase my suspicion that during that PTSD experience, it’s creating néw connections which are being added to the brain. The ptsd experience can not fit normal networks. The 2a creates new fast networks to store the trauma It would also make sense why the psychedelics are so healing for trauma because they are going to the same connection to now heal ??

[@CarlosPerez-mn5gh]

This is informative, I now understand what happened when I tried psychedelic mushroom for depression and anxiety, it worked wonders and made me sleep better, work better , I always get mine from an online vendor that specializes in growing Shrooms and other psychedelic products

[@CarlosPerez-mn5gh]

*Formulah11*

[@CarlosPerez-mn5gh]

Search on Instagram for the handle above

[@Ed-xb2sz]

omg he gon grey age comes 4 all of us :o

[@MariA-bu2jv]

Don’t you know that grey is the new black?! 😀 He still looks extremely young.

[@martinegarneau9133]

Je fais des dépressions depuis 50 ans et ce à tous les 2 ans. La sérotonine présente dans l'intestin ne doit pas faire correctement son activité car j'ai des diarrhées liquide , en eau, depuis des dizaines d'année. De plus , je ne possède pas l'isoenzyme 2D6 du cytochrome P450, ce 2 D6 étant responsable de la métabolisation des médicaments de psychiatrie. J'ai subi une opération d'urgence (péritonite appendicitaire en 2016 et plus rien ne va depuis ce temps. Je dors environ 10 heures par semaine, je suis devenue zombie. Mon corps est épuisé. Croyez-vous que la psylocibin me serait conseillée? J'aimerais avoir une réponse. J'en suis rendue à ma troisième tentative de suicide tellement je ne comprends plus mon cerveau. Aucun somnifère ne fonctionne pour moi. J'ai essayé tous les antidépresseurs et tous les somnifères, rien n'y fait. Est-ce que la psylocibine est métabolisée par le 2D6 ? Est-ce que mon cerveau peut se réparer après tant d'années en dépression profonde et d'insomnie très grave ? Je suis inquiète, j'ai l'impression de devenir Alzheimer. Je crois être devenue électrosensible suite à l'opération. Dans la littérature sur l'électrosensibilité, il est mentionné que celle-ci peut se développer après une intervention chirurgicale. Merci de votre attention.

[@CanadianBear47]

does this guy have a youtube channel? or fb or instagram?

[@vigneshrb1626]

Came here after reading "how to change your mind"

[@CanadianBear47]

i think the twitching is letting go of control

[@papalangham]

One question. Does he microdose?

[@michaeloliver5896]

Hit up the best psychedelic online dealer, she sells all the psychedelic products and also ship to any location.

[@michaeloliver5896]

She’s on Instagram

[@garethglitter5932]

Is he on something in the video?