你的大腦在服用LSD（迷幻藥）後的變化：英語精讀講義

LSD, also known as acid, 片語搭配

LSD，也稱為「酸」（acid），

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

是一種以改變感知、引發幻覺而聞名的迷幻藥物。

But how does it actually work

但它究竟是如何發揮作用的，

and what is the effect on your body

又會對你的身體產生什麼影響，

and more importantly your brain? 表達脈絡

更重要的是，會對你的大腦產生什麼影響？

Lysergic acid diethylamide was first synthesized in 1938 文法

麥角酸二乙醯胺於1938年首次被合成，

from a fungus that grew on rye.

原料來自一種生長在黑麥上的真菌。

In 1943,

1943年，

the inventor Albert Hofmann accidentally touched some to his mouth,

發明者亞伯特·霍夫曼不小心讓一點這種物質沾到嘴裡，

got high, 用詞

隨即進入迷幻狀態，

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

成為世界上第一個發現LSD迷幻特性的人。

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

20世紀50至60年代，人們針對這種藥物展開了研究，

but as recreational use began to spread,

但隨著娛樂性使用開始普及，

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

迷幻藥物在美國被列為非法的第一級管制物質，

and the research programs were halted.

相關研究計畫也被迫中止。

While other drugs are dosed in grams,

其他藥物的劑量通常以公克計算，

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

而單次LSD劑量卻以十萬分之一公克來計量，

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

僅相當於一粒沙子質量的十分之一。

LSD affects multiple brain receptors such as the dopamine receptors,

LSD會影響多種腦內受體，例如多巴胺受體、

adrenergic receptors,

腎上腺素能受體

and glutamate receptors,

和麩胺酸受體，

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

但研究最多的是興奮性血清素受體5-HT2A。

LSD hits the receptor at an unexpected angle,

LSD會以一個出乎意料的角度與該受體結合，

causing it to fold over the LSD, 文法

使受體折疊並覆蓋在LSD上，

creating a lid.

形成一個蓋子。

The LSD is then trapped,

這樣一來，LSD就被困在其中，

which makes this receptor continually fire, 講解

讓這個受體持續發出訊號，

causing you to hallucinate.

進而使你產生幻覺。

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

你的身體會做出反應，把5-HT2A受體吸入細胞內，以分解LSD，

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

但這個過程可能需要12個小時以上，

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

所以迷幻效果才會持續這麼久。

Recently,

近年來，

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

LSD研究重新興起；透過現代神經影像技術，

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

研究人員發現，這種藥物會讓大腦不同區域以獨特的方式互相溝通，

especially in the visual cortex,

尤其是在視覺皮質中，

potentially explaining the vivid and complex hallucinations. 表達脈絡

這或許能解釋那些鮮明而複雜的幻覺。

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

預設模式網路中的血流量也會下降，

correlating to strong changes in consciousness,

這與意識的劇烈變化有關，

characterized as ego dissolution, 文化背景

其特徵是所謂的「自我消解」，

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

也就是你會感覺自己與世界其他部分之間的界線消失了。

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

許多人表示，這種感覺會讓他們重新感受到與自己的連結，

others, and the natural world.

以及與他人和大自然的連結。

In fact,

事實上，

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

一項針對20名接受75微克LSD的健康志願者所做的研究

saw that 2 weeks after being dosed, 文法

發現，用藥兩週後，

they scored higher for the traits of optimism and openness

他們在樂觀與開放性這兩項人格特質上的得分更高，

with increased creativity and imagination.

創造力和想像力也有所提升。

This has led researchers to think about LSD 文法

這讓研究人員開始考慮把LSD

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

用於治療有死亡焦慮且罹患危及生命疾病的患者。

Researchers found that 12 months after treatment,

研究人員發現，治療結束12個月後，

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

患者表示，焦慮有所減輕，生活品質也有所提升，

as the drug helped them restructure their habits and worldview.

因為這種藥物幫助他們重塑了習慣和世界觀。

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

這也是微劑量用藥趨勢興起的原因，

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

也就是一個人只服用娛樂性劑量十分之一的LSD，

attempting to skip the hallucinations

試圖避開幻覺，

and instead experience heightened alertness,

轉而獲得更高的警覺性、

energy, and creativity.

更充沛的精力和更強的創造力。

Although LSD is non-addictive 文法

儘管LSD不會讓人上癮，

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

而且研究人員認為，它的危險性遠低於古柯鹼和海洛因等其他毒品，

there's still an extreme lack of scientific studies

但相關科學研究仍嚴重不足，

to explain the widespread microdosing trend,

無法解釋微劑量用藥為何如此普遍，

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

就連經驗豐富的致幻劑使用者有時也會遭遇可怕的迷幻體驗，

producing irrational fears, paranoia, and panic attacks.

引發不理性的恐懼、偏執和恐慌發作。

LSD can also cause flashbacks,

LSD也可能引發「閃回」，

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

即使藥效已經消退數月，

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

你仍可能感覺自己又一次經歷了全部迷幻效果。

In some extreme occasions,

在一些極端情況下，

people have developed hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, 文化背景

有人會罹患致幻劑持續性知覺障礙，

which is like a never-ending trip. 慣用語

就像陷入一場永無止境的迷幻之旅。

Thinking that LSD can lead to psychosis

認為LSD會導致精神病

and the risk of suicide are overstated.

並增加自殺風險的說法被誇大了。

The 14% of participants in the US national survey

美國一項全國性調查中有14%的參與者

who had done psychedelics in their life 用詞

一生中曾使用過迷幻藥物，

had no increased risk of developing psychosis, 片語搭配

但他們罹患精神病的風險並沒有增加，

depression, or suicide attempts.

罹患憂鬱症或企圖自殺的風險也沒有上升。

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

不過，有關LSD潛在正面作用的新研究還處於非常初期的階段，

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

所以，這可能不是一趟你想親自踏上的「旅程」。

Want to learn more about your brain on drugs?

想進一步了解藥物作用下的大腦嗎？

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

看看我們的播放清單，了解其他許多物質會如何影響你。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos every Thursday.

別忘了訂閱，每週四收看更多科學影片。