LSD-induced entropic brain activity predicts subsequent personality change

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Personality is generally stable in adulthood.
• Major life events, including psychedelic drug experiences, can impact core personality traits.
• Understanding the biological basis of these changes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate biological predictors of personality changes after lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) administration.
• To examine the relationship between brain entropy and enduring personality shifts.

Main Methods:

• A balanced-order, placebo-controlled study involving 19 healthy adults.
• Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) scans under LSD and placebo.
• Assessment of personality using the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) before and after drug administration.
• Analysis of brain entropy using sample entropy on fMRI time-series data.

Main Results:

• Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) significantly increased global brain entropy across sensory and higher-level networks.
• Increased brain entropy predicted enduring increases in the personality trait openness.
• The predictive relationship was strongest during music listening and when "ego-dissolution" was reported.

Conclusions:

• LSD-induced alterations in brain dynamics, specifically increased entropy, can predict lasting changes in personality, particularly openness.
• Subjective experiences like ego-dissolution during LSD use may modulate these effects.
• This research offers insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychedelic-induced personality modification.