LSD and Physics/Upper Level Mathematics

[Powerup]

I've noticed something and I am wondering how common this phenomenon is and/or if anyone knows more about it. This is true for myself and for my fiance, at least, and I've received a few "hmm, maybe, I'm not really sure..." from other psychonaughts. As well as a few "no"'s.

When I take LSD, most clearly on doses of ~ or above 300 ug, I am able to quite competently visualize, conceptualize, and understand/solve complex mathematical problems, especially in the field of physics. This is surprising (considering at the same time I often have trouble speaking with clarity or reading, or sometimes even understanding words and sounds) but beautiful and I'm beginning to make very good use of it.

Opens a lot of doors that lead to a lot of possibilities... and even more questions.

 

[8ft-Sativa]

This Noble prize winning cat was on fire while frying

http://www.mayanmajix.com/art1699.html

I cant imagine myself doing anything in a Coheren way after 3-4 tabs .... I just turn into a helpless baby ...

 

[Powerup]

This Noble prize winning cat was on fire while frying

http://www.mayanmajix.com/art1699.html

I cant imagine myself doing anything in a Coheren way after 3-4 tabs .... I just turn into a helpless baby ...

Ah of course! I remember reading about that several months ago -- thanks for bringing it to my attention again. I also cant help but think about the recent study suggesting that the psychoactive in magic mushies, psilocybin, creates a permanent change in a user's 'openness' and creativity (duh ). The more 'practical' and 'optimizing' properties of these chemicals seem to be almost endless.

 

[jaurk]

Very interesting, I must try.
I'm only doing first year physics but it sounds interesting, I really wish I had some psychedelics

 

[donvliet]

I never tried to do actual math, but I love to think about physics and especially cosmology while on lsd. The fundamental questions about the nature of existence are fascinating to me wether I'm tripping or not. If you're familiar with relativity, quantum mechanics, the big bang, black holes etc you have a lot of very interesting things to think about while tripping.

Especially lsd seems to be suitable for this, because of it's analytical aspect. It has helped me to better understand these theories and to construct my personal wold view. Some interesting questions to play with:

- if there was a big bang, and if it really was the beginning of space and time, how can such a thing happen from a state of absolute nothing?
- alternatively, if space and time have always existed, how can that be?
- is space infinitely big? If yes, how can that be? If not, what is outside it?
- these questions boil down to the question wether infinity exists in reality or wether it's just a theoretical concept.
- what is consciousness? Is it a result of biochemical processes? If so, how can that be? Can we make an artificial consciousness?
- is there a grand unifying theory explaining all of reality (even if we haven't found it yet)?
- what does it mean to bend space and time
- is there fundamental uncertainty in reality, or does every action have one possible outcome?
- what does that mean for the concept of free will?
- what is life? Is it just a complex biochemical process? If yes, how can that be?
- etc

 

[ungelesene_bettlek]

my first psychedelic experience ever was oral cannabis, and it was on the same day after I did an exam in point-set topology. then later, while tripping, I got vivid visions illustrating the abstract concepts, most notable that of initial topology. :D

generally, I often think about physics and mathematics while on psychedelics (not surprising, given that I am working on a PhD in mathematical physics), and consider it very inspiring. it gives me a different perspective on those abstract concepts.

 

[Darksidesam]

This is really really interesting stuff.
I guess it opens gates and ways of thinking that, perhaps clean and sober the majority of us would never spiral down that path of thoughts/ideas.

 

[reformer]

Long Division + LSD = SE#$RT% (gibberish?!)

When I take LSD ... I am able to quite competently visualize, conceptualize, and understand/solve complex mathematical problems, especially in the field of physics.

Not trying to be the skeptic who rains on the punch bowl (to MiXE metaphors), but could you please provide us with a proof or algorithm that you "conquered" while suitably dosed to the gills?

I'm curious as to the level of thought which is possible during an episode of Alice Doses then Does Math.

It doesn't seem likely, from previous observations of artists, that coherent and productive thought patterning occurs during the course of LSD experience... rather, it seems like the insights happen then, but that real work comes later; at least it appears that demonstrably productive periods came about later than the actual experience.

Would you be willing to post the Mathematical quandaries that have plagued you, but were vanquished by LSD?

Posting the particular acid-surmountable problems that you pierced would go a loooong way towards bolstering your theory about cognizance and psychedelics.

 

[Powerup]

Well, I did not mean to imply that I solved anything new -- I certainly haven't defined the maximum gravitational density of a black hole or discovered the particles that comprise anti-matter. What I meant was that LSD helps me understand and work with concepts that I struggle with while sober. A perfect, fairly simple, example of this is the Law of Atmospheres (Barometric Law):

The variables here are P (pressure), z (height; relative to the surface), m (molecular mass), T (temperature), k (Boltzmann's Constant; 1.3807 x 10^-16), and g (gravitational acceleration). The equation is basically just saying that the pressure in relation to the height varies based upon gravitational acceleration in relation to mass and temperature (and that these two factors are affected by height). Before thinking of the law on LSD, I could never quite logically understand how the variables related to one another, but when dosing their relationship became very clear to me and I can now apply this equation without confusion. (I can explain it more if needed.)

 

[mrflippy]

Veryy interesting, LSD, for me, can show me a string of ideas, how they relate and correlate. Absolutely mind blowing, I see how that could lead to math lol

 

[Powerup]

Exactly flippy, relation & correlation are the building blocks of mathematics, so just extend that...

 

[stanleyK]

- if there was a big bang, and if it really was the beginning of space and time, how can such a thing happen from a state of absolute nothing?
- alternatively, if space and time have always existed, how can that be?
- is space infinitely big? If yes, how can that be? If not, what is outside it?
- these questions boil down to the question wether infinity exists in reality or wether it's just a theoretical concept.
- what is consciousness? Is it a result of biochemical processes? If so, how can that be? Can we make an artificial consciousness?
- is there a grand unifying theory explaining all of reality (even if we haven't found it yet)?
- what does it mean to bend space and time
- is there fundamental uncertainty in reality, or does every action have one possible outcome?
- what does that mean for the concept of free will?
- what is life? Is it just a complex biochemical process? If yes, how can that be?
- etc

Nearly my brain list for years

Regarding consciousness, I worked on artificial intelligence project during my computer science study. My theory was that the consciousness is the crossroad of the perception and the memory. Obviously, there is a tide relation between perception, memory and consciousness but there still a magic ingredient that makes it mysterious...
Probably consciousness is a necessary adaptation of the living world coping with the (fast) complexity of the reality.

Regarding free will, I came to the conclusion that free will is mostly an illusion. Is it mostly? Is it always? What about creativity?

 

[Powerup]

RELATED: Very very interesting read, though not as in depth as I would have liked. Focuses somewhat more on DMT than LSD, but relevant nonetheless.

http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v18n1/v18n1-MAPS_8-10.pdf

The effect on my own history, viewed now in four decades of retrospect, was a catastrophic shift from abstract pure math to a more experimental and applied study of vibrations and forms, which continues to this day.

 

[djstrip]

Great post, got me thinking! You may have sparked a new minor for my major haha.

-djstrip

 

[yardbirdrc]

I had insights into some school work on LSD. To be specific, I looked at a grate on my heater and was able to visualize some paging algorithms I was working on. LSD is a really hyper-analytical experience, which is why I think it has such a following in the scientific community. Lots of computer science greats employed it, steve jobs being the most appropriate example at the moment.

 

[Powerup]

Great post, got me thinking! You may have sparked a new minor for my major haha.

-djstrip

Haha, safe travels my friend! Report back if you try some figurin' with Lucy in the near future ;

I had insights into some school work on LSD. To be specific, I looked at a grate on my heater and was able to visualize some paging algorithms I was working on. LSD is a really hyper-analytical experience, which is why I think it has such a following in the scientific community. Lots of computer science greats employed it, steve jobs being the most appropriate example at the moment.

This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for! Great to hear that someone else was able to use it on a sort of 'clarification of concept' level. And as to its following in the scientific community, the first time I learned about acid, in elementary school, I thought "I bet that's what inventors use!" So growing older and discovering the pseudo-truth to that thought has only ever seemed appropriate. I'm just disappointed that not one single society has yet really capitalized on Lucy's potential (IMO).

Then again, perhaps open, complete acceptance would only lead to adulteration and corruption of a beautiful thing. As with almost everything else -- potential, to any large group of humans, always in the end seems to translate to "potential for weapons".

 

[nAON]

You've got me intrigued now. I think this is a valid enough excuse for me to go and buy some psychs now

Just wondering though - do you think this is limited to LSD and the tryptamines, or for all psychs?

 

[Powerup]

You've got me intrigued now. I think this is a valid enough excuse for me to go and buy some psychs now

Just wondering though - do you think this is limited to LSD and the tryptamines, or for all psychs?

Glad to spark some interest!

I can't really venture an educated guess in regard to the second half of your post, only because I've only really worked with mathematical concepts while under the influence of LSD. However, based on the headspace that other psychs like the 2c family, for example, create, I would lean on the side of the effect being largely limited to tryptamines and even possibly only to LSD.

Your question opens a lot of possibilities though!

Would anyone be interested in collecting a sort of basic group of physics equations to be tried by a group of volunteers under a sequence of substances, with the goal of reporting back and maybe drawing some sort of rough conclusions?