Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
26:41
Perspectives on Neuroscience
Published on: July 31, 2007
5.3K
Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
Lindsay P Cameron1, David E Olson2,3,4
1Neuroscience Graduate Program , University of California, Davis , 1544 Newton Ct. , Davis , California 95618 , United States.
ACS Chemical Neuroscience
|July 24, 2018
Summary
N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a key psychedelic molecule found in nature and produced by mammals. This review explores its synthesis, effects, and potential medical applications, highlighting its significance in psychedelic science.
Area of Science:
- Psychopharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) serves as the foundational structure for indole-containing serotonergic psychedelics.
- Its molecular framework is present in well-known compounds like LSD and psilocybin.
Observation:
- DMT is widely distributed across plant and animal species, unlike LSD and psilocybin.
- It is a primary psychoactive agent in ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian herbal medicine.
- DMT is endogenously produced in mammals, yet its physiological role is not understood.
Findings:
- This review synthesizes information on DMT's synthesis, pharmacology, metabolism, and adverse effects.
- It examines the historical context of DMT within chemical neuroscience.
- The review underscores DMT's crucial, yet often overlooked, importance in psychedelic research.
Implications:
- Understanding DMT's endogenous function could reveal novel insights into human physiology.
- Further research into DMT may unlock new therapeutic avenues in medicine.
- DMT's foundational role warrants greater attention in the field of psychedelic science.
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