Psilocybin links binocular rivalry switch rate to attention and subjective arousal levels in humans

Abstract

RATIONALE: Binocular rivalry occurs when different images are simultaneously presented to each eye. During continual viewing of this stimulus, the observer will experience repeated switches between visual awareness of the two images. Previous studies have suggested that a slow rate of perceptual switching may be associated with clinical and drug-induced psychosis. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to explore the proposed relationship between binocular rivalry switch rate and subjective changes in psychological state associated with 5-HT2A receptor activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used psilocybin, the hallucinogen found naturally in Psilocybe mushrooms that had previousl..