In a recent study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry , researchers from New Zealand conducted a phase I trial to assess the effect of micro-dosing of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on the sleep and activity patterns of 80 healthy male adults.
They found that compared to controls, participants who microdosed on LSD slept longer the next night, with no reduction in sleep observed on dosing days.
Study: LSD increases sleep duration the night after microdosing . Image Credit: Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock.com Background
Micro-dosing, the practice of self-administering psychedelic drugs below hallucinogenic thresholds, is believed to enhance mood, creativity, and productivity. While its effects on neurophysiological function are documented, its impact on sleep behavior remains unexplored.
Previous studies on macrodoses of psychedelics like ayahuasca and psilocybin suggest alterations in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep but do not affect total sleep time. Animal studies similarly show increased wakefulness and reduced REM and non-REM durations with serotonergic psychedelics.
A 1966 study objectively measured sleep in association with micro-dosing and showed that low doses of LSD significantly increased REM duration and interrupted slow-wave sleep. Still, the timing of drug administration differed from modern micro-dosing practices.
Subjective reports on sleep quality from micro-dosing studies indicate mixed effects, with some reporting improvements and others experiencing difficulties, such as insomnia. While some individuals cite improved sleep quality as a motivation for micro-dosing, others report challenges, suggesting a bidirectional impact on sleep.
Given the current shortage of evidence in the field, in the present phase I trial, researchers assessed the effect of LSD micro-dosing on sleep duration using commercially available watches. About the study
The present study employed a double-blind parallel-group design, randomizing healthy male volunteers into LSD (n = 40) and placebo (n = 40) groups. Participants self-administered ten µg LSD base or placebo every three days for six weeks.Five participants did not complete the trial protocol, and three were administered an extra dose due to scheduling issues.Key inclusion criteria were males aged 25–60 years. On the other hand, exclusion criteria included specific medical conditions, psychiatric disorders, substance use, and prior psychedelic microdosing.Four visits were conducted: screening, baseline, first dosing (day […]
Study finds microdosing LSD leads to longer sleep: Insights from a controlled trial
