Clayton Coleman, MSc
King's College London
Speaker Bio
As a recent graduate with a Master of Science in Neuroscience from King's College London, my academic focus has been on the therapeutic use of psychedelic compounds. I aspire to become a practitioner in psychedelic-assisted therapy, grounded in the principles of neuroscience. I am convinced that by combining ancient wisdom with the precision of modern science, we can enhance the administration of these transformative substances. Over time, I believe this approach will deepen our understanding of the origins and treatments of mental illnesses, whether through medicinal means or otherwise. I hope to keep a sense of curiousity about the world around me and those who inhabit it.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
The Role of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Ego Dissolution and Emotional Arousal Under the Influence of LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a classic psychedelic that induces profound hallucinations and triggers alterations in emotions and psychological states. It is currently being explored as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder and depression. The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) is a brain region that is known to regulate mood in humans; hypofunction in the left DLPFC is associated with depression. Therefore, this study investigated the role of the DLPFC in the psycho-emotional effects of LSD. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of healthy human participants during placebo and the acute LSD state, we measured the correlation between changes in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the DLPFC and post-scan subjective ratings of positive mood, emotional arousal, ego dissolution. We found significant correlations between ego dissolution and the combined functional connectivity between the left & right DLPFC and thalamus and Fusiform Gyrus. Additionally, emotional arousal wassignificantly associated with connectivity changes between theright DLPFC & the Intraparietal Sulcus and the Salience Network. A confirmational “reverse” analysis, in which the outputs of the original RSFC analysis were used as the input seeds, substantiated the role of the right DLPFC and the aforementioned regions in both ego dissolution and emotional arousal. This innovative seed-based methodology elucidates the critical function of the DLPFC in psychedelic states of consciousness and may contribute to our understanding of the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelics for psychological disorders.