Do psychedelics increase or decrease intelligence?

Scientific Concepts, Discoveries, and Nature/Medical Phenomena

Psychedelics and “Intelligence” (Cognitive Performance)

• The video frames intelligence as a multi-component brain function, including:
  • memory
  • processing speed
  • executive functioning
  • creativity
  • cognitive flexibility / out-of-the-box thinking
  • attention control
  • working memory
  • emotional processing / social cognition
• Key idea: mental illness (especially depression) can “hijack” cognition, lowering markers associated with intelligence. Successful treatment may restore cognition.

Depression/PTSD and Cognitive Effects

• Major depressive episodes can cause a “permanent IQ hit” (as claimed by a professor the speaker cites from medical training).
• Depression-related cognitive disruption affects:
  • perspective
  • creativity
  • executive functioning
• Ketamine is discussed as potentially reducing these symptoms rapidly, which may secondarily improve cognition.

Ketamine (Not Classified as a “Classic Psychedelic,” But Legal in the US)

Use History

• Used for over 50 years
• Originally developed as anesthesia
• Later adopted for:
  • mental health (depression, anxiety, PTSD)
  • chronic pain

Mechanistic Theme

• Emphasis on changes in neural connections and neuroplasticity
• Potential improvements in:
  • cold cognition (cognitive processes independent of emotion)
  • hot cognition (cognition involving emotional salience/reward learning/social perception)

Procognitive vs Antidepressant Effects (Distinction)

• The video claims procognitive effects may occur independently of antidepressant effects, based on referenced research.

Claimed Outcomes

• improved memory and processing speed
• improved attention clarity (“out of the fog” / “see clearly” in patient anecdotes)

Clinical/Personal Use Mentions

• The speaker uses IV ketamine clinically
• Elon Musk is cited as publicly discussing ketamine use

LSD

Historical Origin

• Albert Hofmann synthesized LSD in 1938
• The video also reportedly claims Hofmann contacted Steve Jobs in 2007 to support LSD research

Microdosing (“Microdoing”)

• Popular described in San Francisco and the broader US
• Claimed to be generally safe
• Reportedly does not show significant improvements in mood or cognition
• At least short-term: decreased attention lapses

Higher Doses

• May produce stronger visual and creativity effects
• Potential tradeoff:
  • increased distractability
  • decreased working memory

Neurobiology Claim

• LSD and other psychedelics induce a neuroplastic state linked to cognitive flexibility, modulated by dopamine

Anecdotal Mentions

• Steve Jobs is cited as saying LSD was one of the most important things he did
• Gates is mentioned indirectly

Psilocybin (“Magic Mushrooms”)

Historical Reporting

• Hallucinogenic mushrooms described as early as 1529 by Bernardino de Sahagún (auto-subtitle spelling varies)

Key Discovery (Modern Chemistry)

• Albert Hofmann isolated psilocybin and psilocin in 1958
• In the body, psilocybin is ingested and converted to psilocin

Evidence Summary (As Presented)

• In healthy adults, psilocybin generally shows no clear improvement in cognitive functioning or processing speed
• Some studies report improvements in:
  • attention control
  • memory
  • executive function
  • emotional processing
  • emotional empathy

Treatment-Resistant Depression Subgroup

• Procognitive/emotion-related benefits appear more strongly in treatment-resistant depression
• This suggests antidepressant effects may drive cognition gains

Creativity (“Creative Cognition”)

• Reportedly improves in some studies but not all

Unknowns

• Still “a lot to learn,” especially long-term effects

Legality

• Described as largely illegal in the US

MDMA

Background/Use

• Patented in 1914 (the subtitle includes “MC”)
• Historically used as an aid in relationship therapy

Regulatory Status Claim

• Nearly approved for PTSD in the US in 2024
• The video alleges the FDA rejected it at the last minute

Proposed Cognitive Pathway

• Expected to increase empathy and social connection
• May reduce PTSD severity, potentially improving cognition indirectly

Neurotoxicity Concern

• Described as toxic to neurons with excessive/recreational use
• Dysfunctional serotonin signaling is cited as a mechanism potentially causing:
  • memory deficits
  • executive functioning deficits
• Dose-dependent effects: more use → more deficits

Abstinence

• Some studies report memory recovery after stopping; others do not
• Executive deficits may remain

Medical/Supervised Use Claim

• When medically supervised with smaller doses and less frequent administration, negative side effects appear less likely

DMT + MAO Inhibitors (Ayahuasca)

Cultural and Historical Usage

• Used in South America for centuries

Synergy Mechanism

• Contains DMT (psychedelic)
• Includes MAO inhibitors that prevent DMT breakdown in the body
• Together enable the oral/ceremonial effect (described as “deep psychedelic/spiritual awakening”)

Evidence Level

• Highly limited
• Ritual users:
  • show potential improvements in working memory
  • reportedly show no evidence of long-term cognitive decline
  • an earlier study reportedly found improved thinking style alongside mood/affect and improved quality of life

Legality

• Still described as illegal in the US

Mescaline (Peyote)

Ceremonial History

• Longstanding use by Indigenous North American traditions

Natural History / Age Claim

• Radiocarbon dating suggests peyote use as early as ~5700 years ago

Chemical Discovery

• Mescaline chemically isolated in 1896 by Arthur Heffter

Potency Note (As Stated)

• Historical potency lower (~2.25%) vs modern formulations (~8%)

Evidence Level

• Very limited
• Experiences from Navajo users (per the video) reportedly show no long-term cognitive deficits with ritual use

Additional Concern

• Peyote described as endangered
• Legality issues persist

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Methodologies / Frameworks Mentioned (As Outlined in the Video)

• Clinical interview approach (ketamine):
  • ask patients many questions about:
    • mood improvement
    • cognitive performance
    • mental clarity
  • track changes throughout therapy
• Cognition categorization:
  • Cold cognition = cognitive processes without emotional involvement
  • Hot cognition = cognition with emotional salience (e.g., reward learning, social perception)
• Treatment-effect vs drug-effect distinction:
  • whether procognitive effects occur independently of antidepressant/PTSD symptom relief

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Researchers or Sources Featured (Explicitly Mentioned)

• Dr. Anthony Cave (speaker; clinician and researcher/medical provider)
• Elon Musk (public anecdotal source)
• Steve Jobs (public anecdotal source)
• Dr. Albert Hofmann (LSD synthesis; also isolated psilocybin/psilocin; also associated with contacting Jobs)
• Bernardino de Sahagún (historical recorder of hallucinogenic mushrooms, cited for 1529)
• Arthur Heffter (chemical isolation of mescaline in 1896)
• FDA (regulatory body mentioned regarding MDMA approval timeline)
• Justin Bieber (public anecdotal source re: MDMA/psychedelic experiences; included as an example in the video)