THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOMS

What makes some mushrooms more psychedelic than others? Researchers
at Johns Hopkins University think they know.

A plant alkaloid called psilocybin mimics the effect of serotonin on
brain receptors and provides what the researchers called a "primary
mystical experience" that may lead to overall positive changes in behavior.

While researchers hailed the discovery as a new way to approach
hallucinogenic compounds, they cautioned that the chemical should not
be handled lightly.

"Even in this study, where we greatly controlled conditions to
minimize adverse effects, about a third of subjects reported
significant fear, with some also reporting transient feelings of
paranoia," said study leader Roland Griffiths of Hopkins. "Under
unmonitored conditions, it's not hard to imagine those emotions
escalating to panic and dangerous behavior."

More than 60 percent of the study subjects said they had a "mystical
experience." Of those subjects, one-third said it was the single most
spiritually significant experience of their lifetimes; and more than
two-thirds rated it along with giving birth to their first child.

Two months later, 79 percent of subjects said their lives had
improved at least moderately, compared with the placebo.

The team hopes to study the drug on cancer patients suffering from
depression or anxiety.