Jordi Riba: Salvinorin A: A Perception Modifying Drug with a Unique Neurophysiological Profile

Salvinorin-A acts as a potent and selective k-opioid receptor agonist, which produces distinct states of derealization and dissociation in humans. It induces a profound loss of connection with external reality and self-ownership, often described as a journey to a parallel reality. Neurophysiological data highlights a characteristic alpha rhythm suppression in the posterior brain, including the parietal cortex, combined with a sharp increase in delta activity across the cortex. This profile deviates significantly from classical serotonergic psychedelics, which typically increase neural complexity, suggesting that salvinorin-A serves as a unique probe for consciousness research.