Had an interesting dinner conversation, and will just apologize now for not having researched this topic. But I am wondering if anyone is aware of an organized effort to study the post-mortem physiology (brain focused?) of psychedelic users? This is a cause I could support, and the documentation that potentially may be created in the process of this commitment could benefit other aspects of the community. Thoughts?

can you elaborate?

Studying physical brain changes in documented psychonauts compared to baselines was what I was thinking. The theory being that we are growing (maybe evolving) as we grow spiritually, taking the stoned ape theory to another level, if you will?

No need for post-mortem. There is now a range of (many noninvasive) imaging technologies that provide an unprecedented level of visualization of brain structure and function - from individual molecules to the whole brain.

Depending on what you want to look at:
* There's Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) or Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning to look at brain physiology, neurotransmitters, and how it functions.
* There's Electrical and Doppler Ultrasonic Imaging and CT scanning that shows us the anatomy of the brain and how it is structured.
* We can also measure the biochemical actions and interactions of the brain cells and the molecules that compose them using Functional MRI and various Optical Imaging Microscopes
* Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measure the electrical brain cell activities.
* There are also several other major MRI techniques that have highly specialized functions

The challenge is being able to get this research funded and authorized with the current laws around DMT (and Psilocybin which has been show to grow new brain cells in mice)

"Post-mortem physiology" is a contradiction in terms; physiology specifically refers to the function of living systems.

I think SinysterKyd was more implying "post-mortem anatomy" (people tend to confuse anatomy and physiology) - is this correct SinysterKyd? Are you questioning the changes in brain structure as a result of psychedelic use over time?

Right, thanks for clarifying. I'm aware of technology (and costs) of modern medical scanning. To boil this down to a simpler thought: I have always considered cremation as my final physical state, but if there was a cause that could support psychedelic research, I would be willing to reconsider.

Interesting thought... though I don't think donating your brain (like your organs) for medical research will be able to provide much more insight than what can be gleamed via the various scanning and imaging methods mentioned above.

...so for me, it's getting cremated then pressed into a diamond