The author’s conclusion that the overall effect was generally positive seems strangely dismissive of the fact that anxiety and confusion scores were increased.
Anecdotally, I had a few coworkers go through a phase of LSD microdosing enthusiasm. From my outside perspective, this study matches what I observed: Vaguely better moods associated with increased confusion. They were more immersed in their tasks, but that was partially because even easy tasks were more difficult on their microdosing days.
The most concerning part of their experiment was how it distorted their own perceptions and judgment. They’d feel like they had arrived at great epiphanies or accomplished something impressive after solving trivial or obvious problems. They were convinced that their LSD days were full of breakthroughs and leaps forward, when in reality the drug was just making even small tasks feel like great victories. We politely hinted that they should stop when they struggled to keep up in meetings and conversations.
Anecdotally, I had a few coworkers go through a phase of LSD microdosing enthusiasm. From my outside perspective, this study matches what I observed: Vaguely better moods associated with increased confusion. They were more immersed in their tasks, but that was partially because even easy tasks were more difficult on their microdosing days.
The most concerning part of their experiment was how it distorted their own perceptions and judgment. They’d feel like they had arrived at great epiphanies or accomplished something impressive after solving trivial or obvious problems. They were convinced that their LSD days were full of breakthroughs and leaps forward, when in reality the drug was just making even small tasks feel like great victories. We politely hinted that they should stop when they struggled to keep up in meetings and conversations.
For another perspective, Gwern has some self trials with LSD that also showed some worrisome negative trends: https://www.gwern.net/LSD-microdosing