The Dionysian Primate: Psychopathology and the Psychedelic Brain

The Dionysian Primate: The Default Mode Network, Psychopathology and the Psychedelic Brain. This interview is about a lecture given by Dr Gary Clark of The University of Adelaide Medical School at the Entheogenesis Australis 2017 Outdoor Psychedelic Symposium. Currently depression and various other uniquely human forms of mental illness represent a major component of the global disease burden. Over the last century archaeologists and anthropologists have demonstrated the centrality of psychedelics in traditional ritual healing practices and their importance for our understanding of human cultural evolution. However, the ability of psychedelics to alleviate and heal psychological suffering is something Western science is only starting to investigate thoroughly. The current renaissance of research in this area opens new vistas of scientific investigation into the nature of the human psyche, with the potential of developing innovative ways of addressing the various forms of psychopathology that contemporary human populations are burdened with. Dr. Clark’s work situates scientific research into psychedelics in the context of evolutionary biology and primatology. It also deals with the implications these findings have for our understanding of the evolutionary origins of ritual, music and art. Psychedelics, by opening up previously unexplored regions of the human psyche to scientific investigation, may contribute to unifying our scientific paradigms with our humanistic and religious traditions. This may result in a general deepening and enrichment of our cultural, social, psychological and scientific paradigms. Images of Bee-Headed Mushroom Shaman from Tassili Ajjer (Sahara Desert, 9000-7000 B.P.) and stone carving from Guatemala (1000-500 BC) drawn by Matthew Smale. Link to Entheogenesis Australis for more information: https://www.entheogenesis.org/ Link to Melbourne’s 3CR Radio program Enpsychedelia: http://www.3cr.org.au/enpsychedelia