Putative perception of rotating permanent magnetic fields following ingestion of LSD.
While sitting alone in complete darkness, 3 participants who had ingested psychotropic concentrations of lysergic acid diethylamide reported diffuse blobs of white, purplish, or greenish-yellow lights as two horseshoe magnets rotated at 0.5 Hz. The experiences were not reported when the magnets were stationary or removed from the apparatus. The estimated peak-to-peak variation in field strength at the distance of perception was between 50 and 500 nanoTesla. An association between these results and possible ergot-induced perceptions of "magnet light" reported during the last century by von Reichenbach (1851) is suggested.
Persinger
M A
MA
Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. mpersinger@admin.laurentian.ca
D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D003624:Darkness; D004878:Ergotamine / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D010719:Phosphenes; D012399:Rotation; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects*
D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; D004878:Ergotamine