Mescaline Effects on Creativity In Guppies
Location
SU-103
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Throughout the last century there has been much research done on psychedelic compounds and the potential applications in treating various psychiatric disorders. However, the area of interest in these compounds that this study intends to explore is how an unrefined alkaloid mixture, distilled from the San Pedro cactus, affects creativity. In this study there will be two groups of ten guppies, one that is dosed and one that is not. The experimental group will be dosed at a one percent concentration of ten microliters of the alkaloid mixture per 100 milliliters of water. The total number of subjects will be an n of 20. The subjects will be observed while trying to solve the presented problem in a novel tank, in this case moving an obstacle that impedes access to the part of the tank containing the reward stimulus. Creativity will be measured both by how long it takes the subjects to complete the puzzle in the allotted time of three minutes. Another metric to determine the subjects’ creativity is by how much time is spent moving around the environment. Both measures of time will be in milliseconds. Subjects will be filmed as they attempt to complete the tasks over the course of three minutes. Each three minute video will be broken into three one minute clips and then processed through open source software, tracking their movements using FastTrack. Then, using ANOVA statistical analysis, there will be a determination of whether there is any significant difference between the experimental and control groups. Results will be expected to show that the active effects of microdosing improves creativity in the subjects dosed compared to those not dosed. This study’s goal is to assess viability and consistency with current interest in using psychedelics for improving quality of life and treating psychiatric disorders.
Faculty Sponsor
Shannon Saszik
Mescaline Effects on Creativity In Guppies
SU-103
Throughout the last century there has been much research done on psychedelic compounds and the potential applications in treating various psychiatric disorders. However, the area of interest in these compounds that this study intends to explore is how an unrefined alkaloid mixture, distilled from the San Pedro cactus, affects creativity. In this study there will be two groups of ten guppies, one that is dosed and one that is not. The experimental group will be dosed at a one percent concentration of ten microliters of the alkaloid mixture per 100 milliliters of water. The total number of subjects will be an n of 20. The subjects will be observed while trying to solve the presented problem in a novel tank, in this case moving an obstacle that impedes access to the part of the tank containing the reward stimulus. Creativity will be measured both by how long it takes the subjects to complete the puzzle in the allotted time of three minutes. Another metric to determine the subjects’ creativity is by how much time is spent moving around the environment. Both measures of time will be in milliseconds. Subjects will be filmed as they attempt to complete the tasks over the course of three minutes. Each three minute video will be broken into three one minute clips and then processed through open source software, tracking their movements using FastTrack. Then, using ANOVA statistical analysis, there will be a determination of whether there is any significant difference between the experimental and control groups. Results will be expected to show that the active effects of microdosing improves creativity in the subjects dosed compared to those not dosed. This study’s goal is to assess viability and consistency with current interest in using psychedelics for improving quality of life and treating psychiatric disorders.