Speaker Bio
At the age of 18 I tried psilocybin mushrooms. Psychedelic drugs boosted my interest in philosophy and scientific research on consciousness. I graduated in Biomedical Sciences at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 2020. I collaborated with the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Services (ICEERS) between 2019 and 2022, conducting a public health survey on habitual cannabis users that was published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. In 2022, I also published in Journal of Psychopharmachology a review with Dr. José Carlos Bouso entitled "Significance of Mammalian N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT): A 60-year-old debate", which is collecting very good impact scores. I won a scholarship to attend ICPR 2022. I gave a talk on endogenous DMT in mammals at Breaking Convention 2023. I won a grant from the Source Research Foundation to attend INSIGHT 2023. Recently, I published a review on neuromodulatory mechanisms of DMT in Brain Network and Modulation. Currently, I am studying a master's degree in Nervous System Sciences at Rovira i Virgili University.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
Why should we take endogenous DMT seriously: an evidence-based advocacy
Theoretical Background and Rationale: The subject of mammalian, naturally-occurring dimethyltryptamine (DMT) causes controversy [1, 2]. In part this is because DMT has been found commonly at tiny amounts. Also, hypothesis such as that the pineal gland produces DMT or that it triggers near-death experiences have permeated pop culture and, in a boomerang effect, have influenced scientific views [1, 3]. However, research on endogenous DMT goes back six decades and many of its fruits seem to be forgotten [4].
Research Question and Hypothesis: To contrast main arguments for and against the significance of endogenous DMT in mammals. It is hypothesized that by examining historical and recent literature, it will be possible to provide a clear picture of the state of the art.
Methods and Analysis: A comprehensive narrative review was done of all material available in PubMed [4]. Here, some main findings will be reported.
Main Findings: Proper quantification of DMT levels is technically challenging, only recently they have been reported to be comparable to those of major monoamines in rat visual cortex. The pineal gland is not responsible for DMT synthesis, although there is DMT-synthesizing activity in other relevant brain structures. Moreover, DMT accumulates in nerve endings and several studies point to a likely storage in synaptic vesicles. It is unlikely that DMT triggers altered states of consciousness, although it could serve physiological functions.
Conclusion: Interest in endogenous DMT research is legitimate. Moreover, understanding endogenous DMT’s functions may boost our knowledge about how and why psychedelics work in our brains.