Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) on Cortical Sensory Evoked Potentials in the Cat

Introduction  Several authors have reported the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on evoked potentials in primary sensory pathways. The areas studied were retina,² lateral geniculate body,⁸ and visual,^9,14,18 auditory,^14,18 and somatic cortex.¹⁴ There is incomplete agreement on the effects of LSD on visual and auditory cortex. Purpura¹4 found facilitation of visual cortical potentials with small doses, whereas Evarts⁸ found no significant effect with very large doses. Rovetta¹⁸ used LSD topically and intravenously in small doses and reported an absence of effect onboth visual and auditory potentials. Large doses of the drug have been used infrequently.Numerous authors have described the effects of LSD on the electrocorticogram of several species of animals.^* There is a great variation in the dose reported to produce a significant change in frequency and amplitude, as well as disagreement regarding the character of the changes.