Correlation of rhinencephalic electrograms with behavior: A Study of Humans Under the Influence of LSD and Mescaline

Abstract

Six patients with chronically implanted intracranial electrodes were studied under the influence of d-LSD-25, 1-LSD-25, mescaline, and correlations attempted between the electrograms and behavioral observations. An increase in beta activity and a disappearance of alpha characterized in both cortical and subcortical recordings seemed to be associated with anxiety or its derivatives. Paroxysmal activity induced in the hippocampal, amygdaloid, and septal regions seemed to be associated with overt expressions of disturbed psychotic behavior. Spread of such paroxysmal activity until it became generalized in the cortex seemed to interfere with the full expression of the psychotic behavior. Chlorpromazine not only proved an effective blocking agent as far as the behavior was concerned, but also abolished or minimized the appearance of the low amplitude fast activity as well as the paroxysmal subcortical activity. The possible sites of action of LSD-25, mescaline, and chlorpromazine are discussed with reference to the problems of psychomotor epilepsy, episodic psychotic reactions, and schizophrenia.