Marijuana And Psychedelic Effects On The Mind And Brain

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of marijuana and psychedelics on the mind and brain, exploring both subjective experiences and potential cognitive enhancements. Participants share personal anecdotes, scientific references, and varying opinions on the implications of using these substances for understanding complex concepts, particularly in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that cannabis enhances cognitive functions such as imagination, reasoning, and understanding of science.
  • Others argue that the perceived insights gained from these substances may be illusory and do not reflect actual cognitive improvements.
  • A participant mentions the potential for psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin to provide unique perspectives, including the ability to visualize higher-dimensional objects.
  • There are claims that marijuana does not kill brain cells, contrasting with alcohol, which some participants assert does have detrimental effects on brain health.
  • Several participants express skepticism about the value of drug use for cognitive enhancement, suggesting that natural abilities or other substances like alcohol can achieve similar effects.
  • Some participants share personal experiences, indicating that they find it easier to engage with academic work when not under the influence of drugs.
  • A participant reflects on the potential negative outcomes associated with drug use, citing the experiences of peers who faced serious consequences.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features multiple competing views regarding the effects of marijuana and psychedelics on cognition. There is no consensus on whether these substances provide genuine cognitive benefits or merely create the illusion of enhanced insight.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various anecdotal experiences and scientific claims without reaching a definitive conclusion about the cognitive effects of marijuana and psychedelics. The discussion includes personal opinions and experiences that may not be universally applicable.

Silverbackman
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Seriously, it seems like the cannabis plant is built for the intelligent, inquisitive, imaginative, ect. mind. Not only do my senses, reason, intuition, and imagination expand on marijuana, I also understand science so much more. There is something it does to your logical faculty that makes you understand things your reason couldn't before using your imagination while high. I have heard in addition of expanding the senses it also heightens the ability of the left and right side of the brain. And it makes science so much more transcendent (as well as the natural world) that so many people lack. Unlike alcohol, it doesn't really make you slow, stupid, and doesn't kill brain cells (although looks can be deceiving ;)).

Of course marijuana is a mild psychedelic. According to wiki a psychedelic are;

psychoactive drugs whose primary action is to enhance or amplify the thought processes of the brain. The term is derived from Greek ψυχη (psyche, "mind") and δηλειν (delein, "to manifest"), or δηλος (delos, "beautiful").

and are thought to;

disable filters which block or suppress signals related to mundane functions from reaching the conscious mind. These signals are presumed to originate in several other functions of the brain, including but not limited to the senses, emotions, memories and the unconscious (or subconscious) mind. This effect is sometimes referred to as mind expanding, or consciousness expanding as your conscious mind becomes aware of (or sometimes assaulted by) things normally inaccessible to it. At high levels this can overwhelm the sense of self and can result in a dissociative state.

That really says a lot on why it has the ability to improve the brain and perhaps make it more powerful, especially in the face of tough physics problems. From the more powerful psychedelics LSD and psilocybin people have even reported seeing objects in 4+ spatial dimensions. This really says a lot about their power to perhaps help the top minds in physics solve the M-Theory problems (by at least finding some evidence) and apply it to the so called "Theory Of Everything".

But the only scientist I have ever heard who at least takes in pot is Carl Sagan. I think he did do a good job in his career helping show the public the wonderful world of science. I think Einstein did some too, although I don't know for sure.

So what do these substances really do to the mind and brain?
 
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Silverbackman said:
So what do these substances really do to the mind and brain?
They seem to give the people who ingest them the illusory experience of having greater insights than they actually have.
 
Silverbackman said:
...From the more powerful psychedelics LSD and psilocybin people have even reported seeing objects in 4+ spatial dimensions.

Great. I always wanted to see how a sphere in R^n looks like. If I start taking drugs, you'll be the one guilty. :biggrin:
 
zoobyshoe said:
They seem to give the people who ingest them the illusory experience of having greater insights than they actually have.

Use your illusions ;)
 
zoobyshoe said:
They seem to give the people who ingest them the illusory experience of having greater insights than they actually have.

Don't need cannabis for that. Booze will do it fine. In fact studies have shown that people don't need any artificial help with this enterprise at all.
 
zoobyshoe said:
They seem to give the people who ingest them the illusory experience of having greater insights than they actually have.
:smile: <snark>
 
selfAdjoint said:
Don't need cannabis for that. Booze will do it fine. In fact studies have shown that people don't need any artificial help with this enterprise at all.

Nah, booze kill brain cells. Marijuana and psychedelics don't ;).
 
selfAdjoint said:
Don't need cannabis for that. Booze will do it fine. In fact studies have shown that people don't need any artificial help with this enterprise at all.
Whooaaahh, DUDE! That was so deep! I got the shivvers.
Math Is Hard said:
:smile: <snark>
Wow! That smilie says sooo much! Layers and layers of meaning! You could write an awsome book, dudette! Seriously!
 
zoobyshoe said:
Whooaaahh, DUDE! That was so deep! I got the shivvers.

Wow! That smilie says sooo much! Layers and layers of meaning! You could write an awsome book, dudette! Seriously!

Perhaps you can go more in-depth on what you mean :wink:.
 
  • #10
mind-altering drugs do allow you a unique perspective. It's not always profound, though.
 
  • #11
Silverbackman said:
Perhaps you can go more in-depth on what you mean :wink:.
Dude, ever taken a really close look at the quote button? I mean, just sit and stare at it for a while. Man the things it's taught me!
 
  • #12
dude! I think he's making a mockery of stoners!
 
  • #13
hes probably just a smart kid who likes to smoke weed too. I've tried to expand on my scientific understanding while high but I've found that id much rather watch aqua teen hunger force. I find it easier to do my homework drug free, with the exception of caffeine.
 
  • #14
prox9 said:
hes probably just a smart kid who likes to smoke weed too.
That's me: a bright, 14 year old stoner.
 
  • #15
zoobyshoe said:
That's me: a bright, 14 year old stoner.

I'm the only stoner in my e&m class and I got the highest score on our first test. Could be coincidence though, usually I'm in the average.
 
  • #16
Most of the kids I went to school with were heavily into drugs, the ones that aren't dead, in prison, or suffering from an assortment of mental illnesses went on to achieve zero.

The ones that stopped getting stoned and shaped up are now leading productive lives.

Go figure.

Anyway, nothing comes from threads on this topic.
 

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