你的大脑在服用LSD（致幻剂）后的变化：英语精读讲义

LSD, also known as acid, 短語搭配

LSD，也叫“酸”（acid），

is a psychedelic drug famous for altering your perception and creating hallucinations. 短語搭配

是一种以改变感知、引发幻觉而闻名的迷幻药物。

But how does it actually work

但它究竟是如何起作用的，

and what is the effect on your body

又会对你的身体产生什么影响，

and more importantly your brain? 表達脈絡

更重要的是，会对你的大脑产生什么影响？

Lysergic acid diethylamide was first synthesized in 1938 語法

麦角酸二乙酰胺于1938年首次被合成，

from a fungus that grew on rye.

原料来自一种生长在黑麦上的真菌。

In 1943,

1943年，

the inventor Albert Hofmann accidentally touched some to his mouth,

发明者阿尔伯特·霍夫曼不小心让一点这种物质沾到了嘴里，

got high, 用詞

随即进入了迷幻状态，

and became the first person in the world to learn about the psychedelic properties of LSD. 語法

成为世界上第一个发现LSD迷幻特性的人。

Research on the drug took place in the '50s and '60s, 短語搭配

20世纪50至60年代，人们对这种药物展开了研究，

but as recreational use began to spread,

但随着娱乐性使用开始蔓延，

psychedelic drugs were made an illegal schedule one drug in the US 文化背景

迷幻药物在美国被列为非法的一级管制物质，

and the research programs were halted.

相关研究项目也被叫停。

While other drugs are dosed in grams,

其他药物的剂量通常以克计算，

a single dose of LSD is measured in 1/100,000 of a gram, 短語搭配

而单次LSD剂量却以十万分之一克来计量，

which is 1/10 the mass of a grain of sand. 語法

仅相当于一粒沙子质量的十分之一。

LSD affects multiple brain receptors such as the dopamine receptors,

LSD会影响多种脑内受体，比如多巴胺受体、

adrenergic receptors,

肾上腺素能受体

and glutamate receptors,

和谷氨酸受体，

but most research is on the stimulatory serotonin receptor 5-HT2A.

但研究最多的是兴奋性5-羟色胺受体5-HT2A。

LSD hits the receptor at an unexpected angle,

LSD会以一个出人意料的角度与该受体结合，

causing it to fold over the LSD, 語法

使受体折叠并覆盖在LSD上，

creating a lid.

形成一个盖子。

The LSD is then trapped,

这样一来，LSD就被困在其中，

which makes this receptor continually fire, 講解

让这个受体持续发出信号，

causing you to hallucinate.

进而使你产生幻觉。

Your body responds by sucking the 5-HT2A receptor into the cell in order to degrade the LSD,

你的身体会做出反应，把5-HT2A受体吸入细胞内，以降解LSD，

but this can take up to 12 plus hours to happen,

但这个过程可能需要12个小时以上，

which is why the high can last so long. 表達脈絡

所以迷幻效果才会持续这么久。

Recently,

近年来，

LSD research has seen a revival and using contemporary neuroimaging techniques, 習語

LSD研究重新兴起；借助现代神经影像技术，

researchers found that the drug causes parts of your brain to communicate in unique ways,

研究人员发现，这种药物会让大脑不同区域以独特的方式相互交流，

especially in the visual cortex,

尤其是在视觉皮层中，

potentially explaining the vivid and complex hallucinations. 表達脈絡

这或许能解释那些鲜明而复杂的幻觉。

There's also decreased blood flow in the default mode network, 文化背景

默认模式网络中的血流量也会下降，

correlating to strong changes in consciousness,

这与意识的剧烈变化有关，

characterized as ego dissolution, 文化背景

其特征是所谓的“自我消解”，

described as a feeling where the boundary that separates you from the rest of the world dissolves.

也就是你会感觉自己与世界其他部分之间的界限消失了。

Many people report this feeling brings a sense of reconnection with themselves, 短語搭配

许多人表示，这种感觉会让他们重新感受到与自己的连接，

others, and the natural world.

以及与他人和自然界的连接。

In fact,

事实上，

a study on 20 healthy volunteers receiving 75 micrograms of LSD 語法

一项针对20名接受75微克LSD的健康志愿者的研究

saw that 2 weeks after being dosed, 語法

发现，用药两周后，

they scored higher for the traits of optimism and openness

他们在乐观和开放性这两项人格特质上的得分更高，

with increased creativity and imagination.

创造力和想象力也有所增强。

This has led researchers to think about LSD 語法

这让研究人员开始考虑把LSD

as a therapy for patients with death anxiety and life-threatening illnesses. 用詞

用于治疗有死亡焦虑并身患危及生命疾病的患者。

Researchers found that 12 months after treatment,

研究人员发现，治疗结束12个月后，

patients reported a reduction in anxiety and a rise in quality of life 短語搭配

患者报告称，焦虑有所减轻，生活质量也有所提高，

as the drug helped them restructure their habits and worldview.

因为这种药物帮助他们重塑了习惯和世界观。

It is also why the trend of microdosing is emerging, 用詞

这也是微剂量用药趋势兴起的原因，

where a person takes 1/10 of a recreational dose of LSD,

也就是一个人只服用娱乐性剂量十分之一的LSD，

attempting to skip the hallucinations

试图避开幻觉，

and instead experience heightened alertness,

转而获得更高的警觉性、

energy, and creativity.

更充沛的精力和更强的创造力。

Although LSD is non-addictive 語法

尽管LSD不会让人上瘾，

and researchers rate it as significantly less dangerous than other drugs like cocaine and heroin, 語法

而且研究人员认为，它的危险性远低于可卡因和海洛因等其他毒品，

there's still an extreme lack of scientific studies

但相关科学研究仍严重不足，

to explain the widespread microdosing trend,

无法解释微剂量用药为何如此流行，

and even experienced hallucinogen users will sometimes experience bad trips, 用詞

就连经验丰富的致幻剂使用者有时也会遭遇可怕的迷幻体验，

producing irrational fears, paranoia, and panic attacks.

引发不理性的恐惧、偏执和惊恐发作。

LSD can also cause flashbacks,

LSD还可能引发“闪回”，

where months after the drug has worn off, 短語動詞

即使药效已经消退数月，

it can feel as though you're experiencing the effects of the high all over again. 講解

你仍可能感觉自己又一次经历了全部迷幻效果。

In some extreme occasions,

在一些极端情况下，

people have developed hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, 文化背景

有人会患上致幻剂持续性知觉障碍，

which is like a never-ending trip. 習語

就像陷入一场永无止境的迷幻之旅。

Thinking that LSD can lead to psychosis

认为LSD会导致精神病

and the risk of suicide are overstated.

并增加自杀风险的说法被夸大了。

The 14% of participants in the US national survey

美国一项全国性调查中有14%的参与者

who had done psychedelics in their life 用詞

一生中曾使用过迷幻药物，

had no increased risk of developing psychosis, 短語搭配

但他们患精神病的风险并没有增加，

depression, or suicide attempts.

患抑郁症或企图自杀的风险也没有上升。

But the new research around LSD's potential positive effects is also very young, 習語

不过，有关LSD潜在积极作用的新研究还处于非常初期的阶段，

so this might not be a trip you want to take. 習語

所以，这可能不是一趟你想亲自踏上的“旅程”。

Want to learn more about your brain on drugs?

想进一步了解药物作用下的大脑吗？

Check out our playlist that covers many other substances and how they affect you.

看看我们的播放列表，了解其他许多物质会如何影响你。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos every Thursday.

别忘了订阅，每周四收看更多科学视频。