What are psychedelic substances and what can they be used for

Cave paintings suggest that natural substances like psilocybin and mescaline have been in use for thousands of years. When Albert Hofmann discovered the effects of the synthetic substance LSD in 1943, it was quickly adopted in treatment - perhaps too quickly. Today the approach is more cautious, and psychedelic substances are now being tested for treating a range of mental illnesses and addiction.

Remarkably, often only a single dose is needed before the positive effect takes hold. In several countries, these substances have already been approved as medicines.

The lecture examines how psychedelic substances work and raises the question of whether there is a connection between dreams and the naturally occurring psychedelic substance DMT.