Recently, eyebrows were raised when Prince Harry of England revealed in an interview that he had used psychedelics to deal with past trauma and anxiety. The use of psychedelics as therapy isn’t as outlandish as it may seem. There is a growing body of evidence about their effectiveness in treating a whole host of mental health issues.
In this Infosys Prize lecture, Prof. Vidita Vaidya will trace the earliest reported use of serotonergic psychedelics in ancient indigenous ceremonies and examine how they served as a major challenge to more rigid religious structures from the mid-1500s. Prof. Vaidya will explore the chance emergence of molecular chemistry combinations that opened up new worlds to humanity. She will provide an overview of the past century where the understanding of these molecules, their chemistry and biochemistry, their powerful effects on the body and brain, and their potent ability to influence behavior came to be hotly debated.
Vaidya will look at the recent resurgence of interest in serotonergic psychedelics, what they can teach us about brain function, and how modern researchers can take a leaf from the profound respect that indigenous practitioners have accorded these compounds. When potent chemical components such as serotonergic psychedelics are treated with proper respect, there is indeed ‘mushroom’ for discussion and learning. The lecture will be followed by a moderated discussion with Priyanka Shah, Consultant Psychologist.
07:00 PM
June 15, 2023
