Amanda Feilding - Evolving Consciousness

Amanda Feilding discusses the mission of her Beckley Foundation, which works to advance psychedelic research by understanding the underlying physiological changes of altered states of consciousness. She highlights an early hypothesis that certain substances might increase cerebral blood flow, thereby broadening associations and enhancing consciousness. The presentation emphasizes the critical role of rigorous scientific research in challenging restrictive policies. Feilding details the importance of developing a, scale of harm and benefits, for various substances to help inform better drug policy-making. She also presents findings regarding how psilocybin affects the default mode network, noting a decrease in blood perfusion, which stands in contrast to previous assumptions. Finally, the work explores the potential for compounds like CBD to modulate the effects of THC, showcasing the need for objective, evidence-based approaches to understanding drugs.