Scott Alexander examines a review of a paper on serotonin receptors, discussing prediction error, suffering, and the effects of different serotonin receptor activations on problem-solving approaches and psychedelic experiences. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews George from CerebraLab's analysis of a paper by Nutt and Carhart-Harris on serotonin receptors. The post explores two main points: the relationship between prediction error and suffering in the context of active inference theory, and the different effects of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor activation. Scott discusses how these concepts relate to depression, psychedelics, and problem-solving approaches. He also considers George's suggestion that using psychedelics for introspection might be more harmful than using them for fun or practical problem-solving. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the compatibility of enlightenment with sex scandals, using recent Buddhist teacher scandals as a starting point for broader questions about consciousness and social conditioning. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the recent sex scandal involving Buddhist teacher Culadasa and explores its implications for the concept of enlightenment. He notes that many prominent Buddhist teachers, despite claims of enlightenment, have been involved in similar scandals. The post questions whether enlightenment is compatible with such behavior, and examines various theories about why these scandals occur. Scott suggests that meditation might 'dissolve social conditioning' without necessarily replacing it with compassion. He draws parallels to other consciousness-altering practices and wonders if there are advantages to our usual state of consciousness that these practices might disrupt. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander investigates the prevalence of Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD) and explores potential connections between perception, cognition, and belief in supernatural phenomena. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the prevalence and nature of Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD), a condition where people experience ongoing visual disturbances after using psychedelics. He discusses results from his own survey, which found that about 12.8% of psychedelic users reported some persisting hallucinations, with 3% still experiencing them. Most cases were mild, involving visual snow, halos, or patterns. Scott then critiques a study claiming HPPD doesn't exist, noting methodological issues. He also considers the possibility that some people naturally experience HPPD-like phenomena without drug use, and speculates on potential links between perception, cognition, and belief in supernatural phenomena. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test', examining Ken Kesey's LSD-fueled counterculture movement and its lasting impact. Longer summary

This post reviews Tom Wolfe's book 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test', which chronicles Ken Kesey's experiences with LSD and his role in 1960s counterculture. Scott Alexander summarizes Kesey's journey from novelist to cult leader, his Merry Pranksters group, and their psychedelic adventures. The review critiques Wolfe's writing style and explores the impact of psychedelic culture. It concludes by analyzing Kesey's unique talents, the role of LSD in his influence, and the broader implications for cult dynamics and drug culture. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents a case for skepticism about psychedelic therapy in psychiatry, outlining seven points of concern while still supporting further research. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses reasons for skepticism about the potential of psychedelic therapy in psychiatry. He outlines seven main points of concern: small studies by enthusiasts leading to unreplicable results, the tendency for all psychotherapies to have amazing success stories, comparison with ketamine's underwhelming results, the case of NSI-189 which failed in trials despite anecdotal success, the lack of obvious effects given widespread psychedelic use, the possibility that insights from psychedelics are illusory, and potential FDA restrictions limiting access and effectiveness. Despite these concerns, Scott supports psychedelic research and hopes to be proven wrong. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander explores Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) and other conditions where drugs cause permanent effects, discussing potential mechanisms and their implications. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), a condition where some people experience permanent hallucinatory effects after using psychedelic drugs, particularly LSD. He explores the prevalence, potential mechanisms, and implications of this disorder. The post compares HPPD to other conditions with persistent effects like tardive dyskinesia, and examines various theories about how drugs could cause permanent changes in the brain. Scott considers two main hypotheses: the killing-off of specific neurons, and the idea of the brain as a chaotic system settling into new attractor states. He expresses a preference for the neuron death theory as it seems more understandable and less scary, but acknowledges the complexity and uncertainty surrounding these issues. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents results from a survey of 850 people rating various nootropics, showing a range of perceived effectiveness and exploring addiction potential for some substances. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents the results of a survey on nootropics, substances that claim to improve mental function. The survey gathered ratings from 850 participants on various nootropics. The results show a range of effectiveness, with prescription drugs like Adderall and Modafinil scoring highly, along with LSD microdosing and Phenibut. Some less well-known substances like tianeptine, Semax, and ashwagandha also performed well. The survey also explored addiction potential for certain substances. Scott notes that while the survey lacks placebo control, the large sample size and consistency with previous results lend some credibility to the findings. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander speculates about mental feedback loops, their relation to various disorders, and how increased self-awareness might accidentally worsen them. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of mental feedback loops, where emotions or thoughts can spiral out of control. He discusses how the brain usually prevents this, but sometimes fails, leading to conditions like OCD and anxiety disorders. He speculates that making people more aware of their mental states might accidentally increase these loops. The post then connects this idea to serotonergic drugs and their effects on thought patterns, ending with some admittedly speculative ideas about how LSD might affect mental 'loop sizes'. Shorter summary