Great to see some serious research returning to the world of psychedelics. But if I might just draw your attention to the fine print here:

The study volunteers had an average age of 46, had never used hallucinogens, and participated to some degree in religious or spiritual activities like prayer, meditation, discussion groups or religious services. Each tried psilocybin during one visit to the lab and the stimulant methylphenidate (better known as Ritalin) on one or two other visits. Each visit lasted eight hours. The volunteers lay on a couch in a living-room-like setting, wearing an eye mask and listening to classical music. They were encouraged to focus their attention inward. Psilocybin's effects lasted for up to six hours, Griffiths said. Twenty-two of the 36 volunteers reported having a "complete" mystical experience, compared to four of those getting methylphenidate.

I would really like to meet the four people who had a "complete mystical experience" on Ritalin.

Comments

[Philip Dundas (director of Urban Learning Space)]

Steven, sorry to do this in such a public way but I've been trying to send you an email about a conference I'd like to invite you to speak at. Any chance you would consider giving me an email address. I'll tell you my funny ritalin story too.

[Joshua Bloom]

I could see the Mystical Experience on Ritalin, if these were religous/spiritual people intently focusing inward. The Ritalin would of course help to increase that focus.

Couple that with the nice relaxing environment, classical music. Don't forget its all about set and setting.

You could probably get 10% of that group to have a mystical experience without the Ritalin.

[Alex Ross]

Did anyone achieve spiritual communion with an air mattress?

[seamus]

I once had a complete mystical experience with a bottle of Liquid Paper, a watermelon, and a Winger CD. And yet I still graduated that year.

[mmccabe]

The Nytimes had an article mentioning some of these trials and one of the main creators of psychedelics about a year and a half ago.

I don't if this link will work, but: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/magazine/30ECSTASY.html?ex=1153108800&en=b0262eef17434b46&ei=5070

[Neurontic]

I first read about the resurgence of psychedelics in psychology on the Edge "What's your dangerous idea," which prompted me to dig up info on some of current studies. There's pretty interesting stuff going on in the post-Leary era.

http://www.neurontic.com/2006/07/psychedelic-pharmacology.html

[DFDF]

http://www.hugechoiceof.com/

[qwer]

http://de.geocities.com/lan45der56/