Psychedelics: Experimental Facts and Results

[jan]

The purpose of this post is to share with the community some data coming from academic research about Consciouness and Psychedelics.

These data are definitive scientific evidences from western science that the potentialities of consciouness if far beyond what most human are experiencing in their daily life and by "far beyond" one can understand "considered impossible" for the materialistic paradigm.

It is also my belief that the framework of this particular experiment shows only a narrow portion of all the abilities of consciouness.

Furthermore, this experiment proves that the process leading to these states of conscioussness:

• is repeatable
• is universal
• is rather easy to achieve in the right conditions.
• has concrete applications ("physical" stuff: industry, business, creativity...)

Source: overview of the paper: Harman, et. al., in Psychedelic Reports 19, 211-27, 1966, Willis W. Harman and James Fadiman.


Description:
The project started in the early 60's at the International Foundation for Advanced Studies, used modified states of consciouness induced by mescaline. The aims of the project were to answer these questions:

1. Can the psychedelic experience enhance creative problem-solving ability, and if so, what is the evidence of enhancement?
2. Can this result in enhanced production of concrete, valid, and feasible solutions assessable by the pragmatic criteria of modern industry and positivistic science?
3. Working with a non-clinical population and with a non-therapy orientation, would there nevertheless result demonstrable long-term personality changes indicative of continued increased creativity and self- actualization?

The answers to them were all postive.

An outline of the protocol is given by the following schedule:
8:30 Arrive at session room
9:00 Psychedelic material given. Mescaline sulphate (200 mg).
9-12 Music played, subjects relaxed with eyes closed
12-1 Psychological tests administered
1-5 Subjects work on problems
5-6 Discussion of experience; review of solutions.

The field of abilities that were enhanced:
1. Low Inhibition and Anxiety
2. Capacity to Restructure Problem in Larger Context
3. Enhanced Fluency and Flexibility of Ideation
4. Heightened Capacity for Visual Imagery and Fantasy
5. Increased Ability to Concentrate
6. Heightened Empathy with External Processes and Objects
7. Heightened Empathy with People
8. Subconscious Data More Accessible
9. Association of Dissimilar Ideas
l0. Heightened Motivation to Obtain Closure
11. Visualizing the Completed Solution

Long-term Results
The practical value of obtained solutions is a check against subjective reports of accomplishment that might be attributable to temporary euphoria. The nature of these solutions varied; they included: (1) a new approach to the design of a vibratory microtome, (2) a commercial building design, accepted by the client, (3) space probe experiments devised to measure solar properties, (4) design of a linear electron accelerator beam-steering device, (5) engineering improvement to a magnetic tape recorder, (6) a chair design, modeled and accepted by the manufacturer, (7) a letterhead design, approved by the customer, (8) a mathematical theorem regarding NOR-gate circuits, (9) completion of a furniture-line design, (10) a new conceptual model of a photon, which was found useful, and (11) design of a private dwelling, approved by the client.

This post in not an incitation to use illegal drugs, internationally banned from any rational and legitimate uses, since the conditions, motivations and informed usage are extremely important.
However it is also important to put into perspective the role of the modified states of consciouness and some of their inducers (the psychedelics) as I've tried to do in this post: http://www.projectavalon.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=1054


These facts cannot be denied by the mainstream propaganda since they had consequences in industry and businesses.