Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics01:27

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Hallucinogens are psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perceptual experiences, generating unreal visual and sensory images. Often referred to as psychedelic drugs — a term derived from the Greek words "psyche" (mind) and "delos" (revealing) — these substances include marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), among others. These drugs vary in intensity and effects.
Marijuana, derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)...
CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents01:22

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...
Color Vision01:24

Color Vision

Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.
Synesthesia01:27

Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a remarkable condition where stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People with synesthesia experience a blending or crossing of their senses, such as sight and sound, leading to cross-modal sensations. In this condition, the stimulation of one sense, such as hearing a number or musical note, triggers an experience of another sense, like sensing a specific color, taste, or smell. People...
Altered States of Awareness01:06

Altered States of Awareness

Altered states of consciousness represent significant deviations from one's normal mental state. These deviations can range from subtle changes in awareness to profound transformations in perception, thought processes, and sensory experiences. Altered states of consciousness can be triggered by various factors, including drug use, meditation, hypnosis, illness, or even intense fatigue.
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain that...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

How hyperoxia affects systemic redox state: insights from PULSE-Ox, a randomised double-blind mechanistic feasibility trial.

BJA open·2026
Same author

Associations Between Physical Activity and Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the All of Us Research Program.

The American journal of gastroenterology·2026
Same author

Characterising the clinical associations of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: a retrospective cohort study.

Translational psychiatry·2026
Same author

Removal of Massive Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device-Related Thrombus With Complete Embolic Protection: Step-by-Step Technique.

JACC. Case reports·2026
Same author

Publisher Correction: Zinc-oligoether carboxylate salts as electrolyte additives for aqueous Zn metal batteries.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Quality Improvement Methods for Improving Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Rates at a Large Academic Medical Center and Affiliate Medical Group.

American journal of medical quality : the official journal of the American College of Medical Quality·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

State-Dependency Effects on TMS: A Look at Motive Phosphene Behavior
12:38

State-Dependency Effects on TMS: A Look at Motive Phosphene Behavior

Published on: December 28, 2010

A long-term ecstasy-related change in visual perception.

John Brown1, Mark Edwards, Elinor McKone

  • 1School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. john.brown@anu.edu.au

Psychopharmacology
|April 26, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Long-term ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) use may alter visual perception, specifically the tilt aftereffect illusion. Abstinent users showed increased illusion magnitude, suggesting lasting effects on the occipital lobe's serotonin system.

More Related Videos

Visualization of Endosome Dynamics in Living Nerve Terminals with Four-dimensional Fluorescence Imaging
10:51

Visualization of Endosome Dynamics in Living Nerve Terminals with Four-dimensional Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: April 16, 2014

Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients
12:23

Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients

Published on: April 14, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

State-Dependency Effects on TMS: A Look at Motive Phosphene Behavior
12:38

State-Dependency Effects on TMS: A Look at Motive Phosphene Behavior

Published on: December 28, 2010

Visualization of Endosome Dynamics in Living Nerve Terminals with Four-dimensional Fluorescence Imaging
10:51

Visualization of Endosome Dynamics in Living Nerve Terminals with Four-dimensional Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: April 16, 2014

Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients
12:23

Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients

Published on: April 14, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Vision Science

Background:

  • Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) is known to impact the serotonin system.
  • Serotonin plays a role in visual processing within the occipital lobe.
  • Disruptions to serotonin may affect lateral inhibition and visual illusions like the tilt aftereffect.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate long-term effects of ecstasy use on visual functioning.
  • To determine if ecstasy users exhibit altered tilt aftereffect illusion magnitudes.
  • To assess behavioral changes related to serotonergic functions in the occipital lobe.

Main Methods:

  • Compared 30 ecstasy users with 34 non-drug controls.
  • Measured the magnitude of the tilt aftereffect illusion.
  • Used adaptation stimuli at 15 and 40 degrees from vertical.

Main Results:

  • Ecstasy users abstinent for ≥115 days showed a larger tilt aftereffect after 40-degree adaptation compared to controls.
  • No significant differences were found after 15-degree adaptation.
  • No differences were observed between controls and ecstasy users with recent amphetamine use (within 61 days).

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the hypothesis that ecstasy-induced serotonin system damage leads to behavioral changes in visual perception.
  • The tilt aftereffect may serve as a sensitive measure of long-term serotonergic changes in the occipital lobe.
  • Long-term abstinence is associated with altered visual processing in ecstasy users.