Mescaline-induced psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurometabolic effects in normal subjects: experimental psychosis as a tool for psychiatric research.
Biological Psychiatry December 1, 1992 L. Hermle, M. Fünfgeld, G. Oepen et al. 185 citations
In 12 healthy male volunteers, mescaline produced an acute psychotic state 3.5–4 hours after intake, measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Paranoid Depression Scale. The Assessment of Altered States of Consciousness questionnaire showed specific effects on the visual system. A face/nonface decision task revealed decreased functioning of the right hemisphere. Brain imaging with SPECT showed a hyperfrontal pattern, especially in the right hemisphere, which correlated with psychotic symptoms. These findings question the idea that hypofrontality explains schizophrenia symptoms. Studying psychoactive substances under controlled conditions allows intraindividual control and minimal data variability.