[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] common mental disorders can be thought
common mental disorders can be thought
common mental disorders can be thought of as a lack of connection a lack of
of as a lack of connection a lack of
of as a lack of connection a lack of connection with self in a lack of
connection with self in a lack of
connection with self in a lack of connection with community mental health
connection with community mental health
connection with community mental health is a current public crisis every day
is a current public crisis every day
is a current public crisis every day over 90 Americans are dying due to
over 90 Americans are dying due to
over 90 Americans are dying due to opiate overdose and over 20 veterans are
opiate overdose and over 20 veterans are
opiate overdose and over 20 veterans are dying to suicide it’s important for our
dying to suicide it’s important for our
dying to suicide it’s important for our health to build connections in many
health to build connections in many
health to build connections in many different ways for example as a
different ways for example as a
different ways for example as a scientist it’s important for me to
scientist it’s important for me to
scientist it’s important for me to connect with other scientists from
connect with other scientists from
connect with other scientists from around the world and last year I was
around the world and last year I was
around the world and last year I was able to do this on a Fulbright
able to do this on a Fulbright
able to do this on a Fulbright fellowship where I studied the effects
fellowship where I studied the effects
fellowship where I studied the effects of drugs on brain at the University of
of drugs on brain at the University of
of drugs on brain at the University of Zurich psychiatric hospital even more
Zurich psychiatric hospital even more
Zurich psychiatric hospital even more important we need to establish and
important we need to establish and
important we need to establish and maintain personal connections I was also
maintain personal connections I was also
maintain personal connections I was also able to do this last year when I married
able to do this last year when I married
able to do this last year when I married this wonderful woman who also happens to
this wonderful woman who also happens to
this wonderful woman who also happens to be a neuroscientist but these are
be a neuroscientist but these are
be a neuroscientist but these are examples of when connection goes right
examples of when connection goes right
examples of when connection goes right we have positive experiences with our
we have positive experiences with our
we have positive experiences with our community what happens when the office
community what happens when the office
community what happens when the office is highly stressful or traumatic
is highly stressful or traumatic
is highly stressful or traumatic experiences are large predictors for
experiences are large predictors for
experiences are large predictors for many psychiatric disorders experiences
many psychiatric disorders experiences
many psychiatric disorders experiences such as armed robbery sexual abuse child
such as armed robbery sexual abuse child
such as armed robbery sexual abuse child maltreatment and combat all of these
maltreatment and combat all of these
maltreatment and combat all of these experiences predict many disorders not
experiences predict many disorders not
experiences predict many disorders not just post-traumatic stress disorder or
just post-traumatic stress disorder or
just post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD but common mood anxiety personality
PTSD but common mood anxiety personality
PTSD but common mood anxiety personality and substance use disorders are all
and substance use disorders are all
and substance use disorders are all linked to these negative experiences and
linked to these negative experiences and
linked to these negative experiences and we’ve known this for a long time we’ve
we’ve known this for a long time we’ve
we’ve known this for a long time we’ve known the relationship between
known the relationship between
known the relationship between experiences and mental health but what
experiences and mental health but what
experiences and mental health but what we didn’t know we didn’t understand was
we didn’t know we didn’t understand was
we didn’t know we didn’t understand was the connection how is it that the things
the connection how is it that the things
the connection how is it that the things that we experience can then influence
that we experience can then influence
that we experience can then influence our mental health and that brings me to
our mental health and that brings me to
our mental health and that brings me to the new field of neuro epigenetics and
the new field of neuro epigenetics and
the new field of neuro epigenetics and this is one connection in which we have
this is one connection in which we have
this is one connection in which we have found in molecular mechanism by which
found in molecular mechanism by which
found in molecular mechanism by which our experiences can shape our
our experiences can shape our
our experiences can shape our neurobiology so what are app genetics to
neurobiology so what are app genetics to
neurobiology so what are app genetics to explain this I have to get to the
explain this I have to get to the
explain this I have to get to the molecular science for a moment every
molecular science for a moment every
molecular science for a moment every cell of your body
cell of your body
cell of your body carries the blueprint for life your own
carries the blueprint for life your own
carries the blueprint for life your own unique
unique
unique nucleotide sequence in the sequence code
nucleotide sequence in the sequence code
nucleotide sequence in the sequence code for what proteins to build when and
for what proteins to build when and
for what proteins to build when and where but even though every cell of your
where but even though every cell of your
where but even though every cell of your body is carrying the same code it’s not
body is carrying the same code it’s not
body is carrying the same code it’s not following the same instructions our
following the same instructions our
following the same instructions our cells build different proteins this is
cells build different proteins this is
cells build different proteins this is why we have different types of cells we
why we have different types of cells we
why we have different types of cells we have skin cells and bone cells and blood
have skin cells and bone cells and blood
have skin cells and bone cells and blood cells and my favorite brain cells
cells and my favorite brain cells
cells and my favorite brain cells they’re not following the same Cohen
they’re not following the same Cohen
they’re not following the same Cohen this is what epigenetics is epigenetics
this is what epigenetics is epigenetics
this is what epigenetics is epigenetics can be thought of as on and off switches
can be thought of as on and off switches
can be thought of as on and off switches or up and down switches for what
or up and down switches for what
or up and down switches for what proteins to build and what we’ve learned
proteins to build and what we’ve learned
proteins to build and what we’ve learned in the last couple decades is that
in the last couple decades is that
in the last couple decades is that traumatic experiences have the capacity
traumatic experiences have the capacity
traumatic experiences have the capacity to change these epigenetic markers these
to change these epigenetic markers these
to change these epigenetic markers these up and down switches on genes implicated
up and down switches on genes implicated
up and down switches on genes implicated in mental health this is a molecular
in mental health this is a molecular
in mental health this is a molecular mechanism by which our experiences can
mechanism by which our experiences can
mechanism by which our experiences can shape us another way of illustrating the
shape us another way of illustrating the
shape us another way of illustrating the difference between genetics and
difference between genetics and
difference between genetics and epigenetics is with identical twins when
epigenetics is with identical twins when
epigenetics is with identical twins when they’re born they have near identical
they’re born they have near identical
they’re born they have near identical genomes that they will continue to have
genomes that they will continue to have
genomes that they will continue to have for the rest of their life but they’re
for the rest of their life but they’re
for the rest of their life but they’re born already with slightly different
born already with slightly different
born already with slightly different epigenetics and those differences in
epigenetics and those differences in
epigenetics and those differences in their epigenetics will only grow with
their epigenetics will only grow with
their epigenetics will only grow with age because we know that many
age because we know that many
age because we know that many experiences and things in our
experiences and things in our
experiences and things in our environment change our epigenetics such
environment change our epigenetics such
environment change our epigenetics such as nutrition exercise toxins stress
as nutrition exercise toxins stress
as nutrition exercise toxins stress drugs and this is not necessarily a bad
drugs and this is not necessarily a bad
drugs and this is not necessarily a bad thing
thing
thing this is really quite a fantastic idea
this is really quite a fantastic idea
this is really quite a fantastic idea this shows that our brain has the
this shows that our brain has the
this shows that our brain has the ability to continuously respond to
ability to continuously respond to
ability to continuously respond to ever-changing social cues throughout our
ever-changing social cues throughout our
ever-changing social cues throughout our entire life which leads me to wonder if
entire life which leads me to wonder if
entire life which leads me to wonder if traumatic experiences can be so powerful
traumatic experiences can be so powerful
traumatic experiences can be so powerful as to change our epigenome in a way that
as to change our epigenome in a way that
as to change our epigenome in a way that changes our physiology and downstream
changes our physiology and downstream
changes our physiology and downstream behavior and mental health is it
behavior and mental health is it
behavior and mental health is it possible that a profound experience
possible that a profound experience
possible that a profound experience could also be so powerful as a change
could also be so powerful as a change
could also be so powerful as a change our epigenome in down trips downstream
our epigenome in down trips downstream
our epigenome in down trips downstream physiology and perhaps heal mental
physiology and perhaps heal mental
physiology and perhaps heal mental health we all have profound experiences
health we all have profound experiences
health we all have profound experiences throughout life experiences such as
throughout life experiences such as
throughout life experiences such as getting married welcoming a child into
getting married welcoming a child into
getting married welcoming a child into our home putting our all into a goal and
our home putting our all into a goal and
our home putting our all into a goal and achieving it or not
achieving it or not
achieving it or not or spiritual experience whether it be if
or spiritual experience whether it be if
or spiritual experience whether it be if nature or religion is it possible that a
nature or religion is it possible that a
nature or religion is it possible that a profound experience much like a
profound experience much like a
profound experience much like a traumatic experience can come in and
traumatic experience can come in and
traumatic experience can come in and alter our epigenome in a way that leads
alter our epigenome in a way that leads
alter our epigenome in a way that leads to healing if this was possible how
to healing if this was possible how
to healing if this was possible how would we do it how could we induce a
would we do it how could we induce a
would we do it how could we induce a profound experience in a therapeutic
profound experience in a therapeutic
profound experience in a therapeutic setting what would it look like one idea
setting what would it look like one idea
setting what would it look like one idea is to use a psychoactive substance to
is to use a psychoactive substance to
is to use a psychoactive substance to use our current knowledge of
use our current knowledge of
use our current knowledge of pharmacology and how drugs affect our
pharmacology and how drugs affect our
pharmacology and how drugs affect our brain this wouldn’t be so far off from
brain this wouldn’t be so far off from
brain this wouldn’t be so far off from our current mental health treatment
our current mental health treatment
our current mental health treatment paradigms already we already use a wide
paradigms already we already use a wide
paradigms already we already use a wide variety of drugs to treat many disorders
variety of drugs to treat many disorders
variety of drugs to treat many disorders often on a daily basis and there happens
often on a daily basis and there happens
often on a daily basis and there happens to be a class of drugs that people have
to be a class of drugs that people have
to be a class of drugs that people have been taking for millennia to purposely
been taking for millennia to purposely
been taking for millennia to purposely induce profound experiences and many
induce profound experiences and many
induce profound experiences and many cultures from around the world seen as
cultures from around the world seen as
cultures from around the world seen as class of drugs as healing medicines
class of drugs as healing medicines
class of drugs as healing medicines this is psychedelics now this might seem
this is psychedelics now this might seem
this is psychedelics now this might seem like a silly proposition at first these
like a silly proposition at first these
like a silly proposition at first these are in fact legal illegal substances
are in fact legal illegal substances
are in fact legal illegal substances right now they’ve been a controversial
right now they’ve been a controversial
right now they’ve been a controversial topic ever since the 1960s but while
topic ever since the 1960s but while
topic ever since the 1960s but while they are powerful substances and should
they are powerful substances and should
they are powerful substances and should be regarded cautiously I’m here to say
be regarded cautiously I’m here to say
be regarded cautiously I’m here to say that they got a bad rap so what do I
that they got a bad rap so what do I
that they got a bad rap so what do I mean by psychedelics what are plastic
mean by psychedelics what are plastic
mean by psychedelics what are plastic psychedelics the chima is commonly known
psychedelics the chima is commonly known
psychedelics the chima is commonly known in North America our LSD or acid in
in North America our LSD or acid in
in North America our LSD or acid in magic mushrooms or psilocybin classic
magic mushrooms or psilocybin classic
magic mushrooms or psilocybin classic psychedelics work on your serotonin
psychedelics work on your serotonin
psychedelics work on your serotonin system serotonin is a neurotransmitter
system serotonin is a neurotransmitter
system serotonin is a neurotransmitter highly implicated in regulating mood and
highly implicated in regulating mood and
highly implicated in regulating mood and perception and right now the most
perception and right now the most
perception and right now the most commonly prescribed antidepressants work
commonly prescribed antidepressants work
commonly prescribed antidepressants work on your serotonin system so what is a
on your serotonin system so what is a
on your serotonin system so what is a psychedelic I swear it’s like I’m
psychedelic I swear it’s like I’m
psychedelic I swear it’s like I’m sitting here telling you that we can
sitting here telling you that we can
sitting here telling you that we can induce a profound experience what does
induce a profound experience what does
induce a profound experience what does that look like what does it feel like to
that look like what does it feel like to
that look like what does it feel like to answer this question let’s turn to the
answer this question let’s turn to the
answer this question let’s turn to the research literature so I’m not talking
research literature so I’m not talking
research literature so I’m not talking about recreational use I’m talking about
about recreational use I’m talking about
about recreational use I’m talking about what is that we find in the science and
what is that we find in the science and
what is that we find in the science and a controlled study when these
a controlled study when these
a controlled study when these participants have adequate preparation
participants have adequate preparation
participants have adequate preparation expectations and dosing
expectations and dosing
expectations and dosing one of the most commonly known and
one of the most commonly known and
one of the most commonly known and perhaps misunderstood effects of
perhaps misunderstood effects of
perhaps misunderstood effects of psychedelics are the sensory alterations
psychedelics are the sensory alterations
psychedelics are the sensory alterations and of course this is where they get
and of course this is where they get
and of course this is where they get their other term hallucinogens now while
their other term hallucinogens now while
their other term hallucinogens now while the word hallucinogens is still widely
the word hallucinogens is still widely
the word hallucinogens is still widely used in the literature I personally
used in the literature I personally
used in the literature I personally choose not to use it and that’s because
choose not to use it and that’s because
choose not to use it and that’s because the term hallucination has a negative
the term hallucination has a negative
the term hallucination has a negative connotation and it’s often used in
connotation and it’s often used in
connotation and it’s often used in pairing it with psychosis in a psychosis
pairing it with psychosis in a psychosis
pairing it with psychosis in a psychosis one has lost touch with reality and they
one has lost touch with reality and they
one has lost touch with reality and they think that the sensory alterations that
think that the sensory alterations that
think that the sensory alterations that they’re experiencing are real now with
they’re experiencing are real now with
they’re experiencing are real now with psychedelics one tends to remain in the
psychedelics one tends to remain in the
psychedelics one tends to remain in the knowing that what they’re experiencing
knowing that what they’re experiencing
knowing that what they’re experiencing is an effect of the drug they’ve taken
is an effect of the drug they’ve taken
is an effect of the drug they’ve taken so for an example some common visual
so for an example some common visual
so for an example some common visual alterations one may experience if this
alterations one may experience if this
alterations one may experience if this was your reality if this was the world
was your reality if this was the world
was your reality if this was the world you were looking at under the influence
you were looking at under the influence
you were looking at under the influence of a psychedelic you might see light you
of a psychedelic you might see light you
of a psychedelic you might see light you might see colors have brighter
might see colors have brighter
might see colors have brighter luminescent like light is shining
luminescent like light is shining
luminescent like light is shining through the colors you might experience
through the colors you might experience
through the colors you might experience color alterations so they can look
color alterations so they can look
color alterations so they can look different the colors might not be real
different the colors might not be real
different the colors might not be real you can lose visual acuity so everything
you can lose visual acuity so everything
you can lose visual acuity so everything you’re seeing might be a little bit
you’re seeing might be a little bit
you’re seeing might be a little bit blurry you might see geometric patterns
blurry you might see geometric patterns
blurry you might see geometric patterns and movement coming from whatever it is
and movement coming from whatever it is
and movement coming from whatever it is you’re looking at and more often than
you’re looking at and more often than
you’re looking at and more often than not people report this as visually
not people report this as visually
not people report this as visually aesthetic and pleasing and entertaining
aesthetic and pleasing and entertaining
aesthetic and pleasing and entertaining this is why I choose not to call them
this is why I choose not to call them
this is why I choose not to call them hallucinogens but psychedelics that term
hallucinogens but psychedelics that term
hallucinogens but psychedelics that term was coined by a psychiatrists and it
was coined by a psychiatrists and it
was coined by a psychiatrists and it means mind manifesting another common
means mind manifesting another common
means mind manifesting another common reported subjective effect of these
reported subjective effect of these
reported subjective effect of these drugs is increased insightfulness
drugs is increased insightfulness
drugs is increased insightfulness participants report the ability to see a
participants report the ability to see a
participants report the ability to see a connection between emotions and people
connection between emotions and people
connection between emotions and people and experiences in their life but they
and experiences in their life but they
and experiences in their life but they were not able to see before they report
were not able to see before they report
were not able to see before they report feeling a wide variety of emotions and
feeling a wide variety of emotions and
feeling a wide variety of emotions and even the harder emotions like sadness
even the harder emotions like sadness
even the harder emotions like sadness fear and anxiety they later report that
fear and anxiety they later report that
fear and anxiety they later report that it was beneficial to experience them and
it was beneficial to experience them and
it was beneficial to experience them and they learned something from them
unity people report feeling connected to
unity people report feeling connected to all of humankind through time and space
all of humankind through time and space
all of humankind through time and space race and religion nation and border
race and religion nation and border
race and religion nation and border people feel connected recent research
people feel connected recent research
people feel connected recent research from Johns Hopkins University showed
from Johns Hopkins University showed
from Johns Hopkins University showed that in a controlled setting with
that in a controlled setting with
that in a controlled setting with healthy participants when given a
healthy participants when given a
healthy participants when given a moderate or high dose of psilocybin 78
moderate or high dose of psilocybin 78
moderate or high dose of psilocybin 78 percent of them reported it to be among
percent of them reported it to be among
percent of them reported it to be among the top five experiences of their life
the top five experiences of their life
the top five experiences of their life in a year later 94 percent of them still
in a year later 94 percent of them still
in a year later 94 percent of them still agreed top five experience in my whole
agreed top five experience in my whole
agreed top five experience in my whole life they also reported increased life
life they also reported increased life
life they also reported increased life satisfaction well-being and openness to
satisfaction well-being and openness to
satisfaction well-being and openness to experiencing life now I’m not saying to
experiencing life now I’m not saying to
experiencing life now I’m not saying to go home and take a psychedelic this
go home and take a psychedelic this
go home and take a psychedelic this weekend don’t say that don’t think that
weekend don’t say that don’t think that
weekend don’t say that don’t think that we’re just looking at what the evidence
we’re just looking at what the evidence
we’re just looking at what the evidence is showing us about the potential about
is showing us about the potential about
is showing us about the potential about this class of drugs when they are taken
this class of drugs when they are taken
this class of drugs when they are taken correctly but the research hasn’t only
correctly but the research hasn’t only
correctly but the research hasn’t only been done with healthy participants by
been done with healthy participants by
been done with healthy participants by 1965 before this class of drugs was
1965 before this class of drugs was
1965 before this class of drugs was illegal over 1000 published clinical
illegal over 1000 published clinical
illegal over 1000 published clinical studies in over 40,000 participants
studies in over 40,000 participants
studies in over 40,000 participants suggested beneficial effects a
suggested beneficial effects a
suggested beneficial effects a psychedelic assistant therapy for common
psychedelic assistant therapy for common
psychedelic assistant therapy for common psychiatric disorders
psychiatric disorders
psychiatric disorders now since the 60s our regulatory and
now since the 60s our regulatory and
now since the 60s our regulatory and research methods expectations have
research methods expectations have
research methods expectations have changed when it comes to clinical drug
changed when it comes to clinical drug
changed when it comes to clinical drug trials but recently three top research
trials but recently three top research
trials but recently three top research universities in the States have
universities in the States have
universities in the States have published Phase two clinical trials
published Phase two clinical trials
published Phase two clinical trials using psilocybin assistive therapy to
using psilocybin assistive therapy to
using psilocybin assistive therapy to treat depression and anxiety related to
treat depression and anxiety related to
treat depression and anxiety related to cancer so they’re not treating cancer
cancer so they’re not treating cancer
cancer so they’re not treating cancer the treatment depression and anxiety
the treatment depression and anxiety
the treatment depression and anxiety related to the cancer experience all
related to the cancer experience all
related to the cancer experience all three studies all participants show
three studies all participants show
three studies all participants show decreased depression anxiety six months
decreased depression anxiety six months
decreased depression anxiety six months after their treatment this breaks our
after their treatment this breaks our
after their treatment this breaks our current mental health paradigm we
current mental health paradigm we
current mental health paradigm we currently do not have a single
currently do not have a single
currently do not have a single fda-approved
fda-approved
fda-approved antidepressant that has rapid or
antidepressant that has rapid or
antidepressant that has rapid or long-term effects
so I remind you the power of experiences
so I remind you the power of experiences in our mental health we have recently
in our mental health we have recently
in our mental health we have recently discovered that our experiences have the
discovered that our experiences have the
discovered that our experiences have the ability to change at the molecular level
ability to change at the molecular level
ability to change at the molecular level and I wonder is it possible that the
and I wonder is it possible that the
and I wonder is it possible that the experience of psychedelic assistive
experience of psychedelic assistive
experience of psychedelic assistive therapy can be healing us at a molecular
therapy can be healing us at a molecular
therapy can be healing us at a molecular level is it possible that the long-term
level is it possible that the long-term
level is it possible that the long-term behavioral effects in the long-term
behavioral effects in the long-term
behavioral effects in the long-term symptom reduction that we’re seeing
symptom reduction that we’re seeing
symptom reduction that we’re seeing after psychedelic assistive therapy
after psychedelic assistive therapy
after psychedelic assistive therapy could be happening at the molecular
could be happening at the molecular
could be happening at the molecular epigenetic level I don’t know the answer
epigenetic level I don’t know the answer
epigenetic level I don’t know the answer to this yet this is what I hope to find
to this yet this is what I hope to find
to this yet this is what I hope to find out in my research over the next couple
out in my research over the next couple
out in my research over the next couple of years now I know I’ve talked about a
of years now I know I’ve talked about a
of years now I know I’ve talked about a lot today but if you can remember one
lot today but if you can remember one
lot today but if you can remember one thing from my talk this as a society if
thing from my talk this as a society if
thing from my talk this as a society if we choose to harness the power of the
we choose to harness the power of the
we choose to harness the power of the connection between our experiences and
connection between our experiences and
connection between our experiences and our neurobiology we may be able to bring
our neurobiology we may be able to bring
our neurobiology we may be able to bring in a new era of mental health thank you
in a new era of mental health thank you
in a new era of mental health thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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