A short conversational transcript from a Jeffrey Bland, PhD video discussing a Cell commentary titled "MDMA as a probe and treatment for social behaviors." Speakers explain that MDMA (ecstasy) is a Schedule I amphetamine-derivative that, despite its classification, can increase compassion, empathy, and feelings of kindness — earning the label "empathogen." The speakers propose using MDMA experimentally to probe neural pathways underlying empathy, and suggest searching for natural ways to activate the same neurochemical systems to enhance empathy (e.g., for PTSD and social functioning). The segment ends by asking how mood, mind, memory and behavior arise from neural mechanisms.
Chapters
Well, this is a little mind teaser for you. This has to do with perspective and how we look at things.
So I happen to be reading a.
Very prestigious journal in cellular biology called Cell. And lo and behold, I found this.
Interesting commentary article entitled MDMA as a probe and treatment for social behaviors. Now what is mdma?
It's methylene diameter, which is known in.
The street as ecstasy.
We all know this has been a Schedule 1 drug for which it's been.
Classified as having no value.
It was a serious, serious problem for.
Individuals that were consuming it and producing all sorts of overdose responses.
So it has a wholly negative perspective.
In the social id.
But yet these investigators, psychopharmacologists said, now just a second, let's look at what.
This compound, this amphetamine derivative does in the human nervous system.
And it turns out what it does is it increases compassion, it increases empathy.
And it has an effect on a feeling of kindness.
And therefore it has been labeled an empathogen. Empathogen. Now look at that as a perspective.
We go from on one side, it.
Being a drug of abuse with no.
Demonstrated value, a schedule 1, only a.
Toxin, to the other side, it having an effect, this one molecule on the nervous system, so that the impact its affect on human behavior is empathy, understanding, kindness, warmth, lovingness.
And what does that say about our nervous system? It's pretty amazing when you think about.
It, isn't it, that a single small.
Molecule chemical in our brain can change us from PTSD to empathetic and to sensitive small modifications.
Therefore, in the way that our body.
Manufactures these neurochemicals, can have dramatic effects.
In modulating mood, mind, memory, behavior and our affect.
And so these investigators are saying, although.
This is a synthetic derivative that you.
Don'T find normally in brain chemistry, could it be used for probing this pathway of empathetic behavior? And can we find natural empathogens, ways to introduce this so that the body produces own array of natural chemicals that.
Would induce then to this type of kindness behavior?
May actually even go on to say that in this particular time, both nationally.
And internationally, what is more important than.
Elucidating the mechanism in our brains that generate empathy, openness and the most positive.
Of social experiences, and that maybe this molecule, when properly explored, could help us.
Understand how to open these pathways, not.
Dependent upon drugs, but actually finding how.
We increase our empathy through activation of.
The neural pathways that give rise to.
These neurochemicals that do regulate those behaviors.
It's a very, very interesting perspective, isn't.
It, when we juxtapose that against just the concept of a Schedule 1 drug producing abusive behavior, addiction, and being a problem.
So how do we really understand where a mood, mind, memory and behavior comes.
From as it relates to the necessity for enhancing our empathetic outlook?
