Microdose LSD to pit brain against AI

The powerful effect of psychedelic was already known to masses. It is already acknowledged how these drugs activates certain regions in human brain and allows them to bond amongst themselves in entirely new and unified ways.

The researchers are now set to discover whether microdosing LSD (Lysergic Acid Deithylamide) will be able to perform the same boost and can change the way human brains function. In order to carry on with their study, the researchers have decided to pit the microdosed humans against artificial intelligence in the Chinese game of ‘Go’.

Amanda Feilding, the lead researcher of the study generated this idea. She herself takes the drug each day before work in order to boost up her creativity and productivity, Science Alert reported. “I found that if I was on LSD and my opponent wasn't, I won more games. For me, that was a very clear indication that it improves cognitive function, particularly a kind of intuitive pattern recognition.”

According to last year’s research, LSD was able to kick in multiple regions of the brain, as the volunteers upon whom the tests were conducted were able to “see with their eyes shut”. The psychedelic were also capable to ‘elevating’ human minds and alter their capacity to think, people mentioned.

Along with that, recent study also proved that these drugs contain a great therapeutic possibility for treating psychiatric patients.

However, in order to minimize the side effects of the high dose, researchers have started to test with microdosing as an alternative. The people are given less than approximately 20 micrograms of LSD for boosting up the brain without the high.

Feilding informed, “For decades, we have seen anecdotal evidence that microdosing improves mood and well-being, enhances cognition, increases productivity, and boosts creativity. Now we have the opportunity to undertake the first controlled scientific investigation into the effects of microdosing LSD, thereby finally establishing whether the claims about its benefits are true.”

The idea includes recruiting of 20 participants who will be provided with low doses (10, 20 or 50 micrograms) of LSD or placebo. Then, through MRI and MEG, images of their brains will be taken as they execute various cognitive jobs. They will also be pitted against AI in the game ‘Go’.

Business Insider reported Feilding informing that they want to begin with their study as early as this month in order to obtain initial results by the year’s end.

“It's a study I've wanted to do for 30 years. I'm very interested in that level of [potential] cognitive enhancement which isn't a full-blown psychedelic state but is a lift in productivity and cognition and amusement or thinking further than one usually does,” concluded Feilding.