What was Bryan Johnson's subjective experience taking 5-MeO-DMT?

Bryan Johnson described the experience as initially overwhelming, requiring him to 'relent' entirely by releasing all attachments and ego. This led to unimaginable bliss and euphoria, calling it the most dynamic human experience he's ever had. He noted the internal ego chatter turned off, replaced by hyper-awareness.

How does 5-MeO-DMT affect the brain, particularly the Default Mode Network?

5-MeO-DMT completely dissolves the Default Mode Network (DMN), which is responsible for constructing the self and ego. This dampening is seen as a key mechanism for neuroplasticity, allowing for rewiring and a potential reset to a more youthful brain state.

What longevity benefits were observed from psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT?

Psilocybin showed reduced inflammation and improved metabolic markers in Bryan Johnson's brain, including a significant reset in blood glucose levels. 5-MeO-DMT was even more potent, 'annihilating' the DMN and leading to a subjective feeling of childlike euphoria and a renewed sense of self.

What are the potential risks and downsides of using psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT?

Risks include inducing permanent psychosis, triggering schizophrenic states in predisposed individuals, and causing 'bad trips' that leave lasting scars. The lack of quantification, supervision, and proper set/setting in recreational use can exacerbate these risks.

Can psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT lead to radical life changes and what are the implications?

Yes, psychedelics can cause dramatic shifts in perspective, leading some to abandon previous life structures, careers, and relationships. This can create fallout for investors, employees, and family members. Bryan Johnson, however, felt more motivated and focused on his work post-experience.

What future longevity therapies are being explored beyond psychedelics?

Bryan Johnson is looking into cell therapy and gene therapy, specifically mitochondrial rejuvenation, potentially using a relative's young mitochondria. He is also developing personalized medicine through organoids and investing in companies like New Limit working on factor discovery for cellular rejuvenation.

How does the experience of psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT compare to other longevity interventions?

Bryan Johnson subjectively found the 5-MeO-DMT experience to be more efficacious for resetting him as a human than all traditional longevity therapies combined (diet, exercise, sleep, sauna, etc.). He believes psychedelics may play a unique role in maintaining a youthful disposition and psychological rejuvenation.

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Bryan Johnson: I Just Took the Most Powerful Dose of DMT in the World... Here's What It Was Like

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Bryan Johnson took a massive dose of 5-MeO-DMT, experiencing a collapse of his ego and a profound sense of euphoria, which he believes could be a powerful rejuvenation therapy, but the long-term effects and risks remain unclear.

Key Insights

Bryan Johnson experienced a complete dissolution of his default mode network (DMN), the brain region responsible for self and ego, during his 5-MeO-DMT experience.

He likens the experience to raw consciousness and intelligence, describing it as the most dynamic and majestic experience achievable by an intelligent life form.

Previous research with psilocybin in humans showed reduced inflammation and a metabolic reset, with Johnson's blood glucose moving to the top 99.9th percentile, suggesting potential longevity benefits.

Unlike psilocybin, which dampens the DMN, 5-MeO-DMT 'annihilated' his DMN, leading to a childlike sense of excitement and reduced reactivity in interpersonal conflicts.

Johnson believes psychedelics could be a crucial tool for human adaptation in an era of rapid AI-driven change, potentially enhancing 'psychoflexibility'.

He likens the profound psychological rejuvenation from 5-MeO-DMT to 30-40 years, surpassing the effects of exercise, nutrition, and sauna therapy.

The extreme dose of 5-MeO-DMT and its immediate impact

Bryan Johnson describes his recent experience taking a 9mg intramuscular and 7.18mg vaporized dose of 5-MeO-DMT, a substance he calls the most powerful psychedelic on the planet. Within 10 seconds, he was 'out,' experiencing what he can only describe as raw consciousness and intelligence, an incomprehensible depth and breadth of existence. He emphasizes that the experience was not visual like DMT but involved an intense internal struggle where surrendering ego and all attachments led to unimaginable bliss and euphoria. Johnson asserts it was the most dynamic human experience he has ever encountered, surpassing events like having a child or overcoming major difficulties. He notes that the internal monologue of the ego completely turns off, yet one remains hyper-aware and majestic in this state.

Dissolving the default mode network for rejuvenation

Johnson explains that 5-MeO-DMT completely dissolves the brain's default mode network (DMN), which he describes as the engine of self and ego. The DMN is responsible for rumination and the constant internal conversation that shapes our perception of reality. As people age, this network becomes stiffer, narrowing their experience of the world. He draws parallels to his previous experiment with psilocybin, which also dampens the DMN, as measured by his Kernel brain interface. Psilocybin was observed to scramble the brain's typical connectivity patterns, similar to repositioning airports on a globe, leading to neuroplasticity and the formation of new connections and ways of thinking. This rewiring is understood to help resolve trauma and anxiety by creating new neural pathways.

Longevity experiment's pivot to psychedelics

Initially, Johnson's longevity project focused on scientifically backed interventions like exercise, diet, and sleep, moving down a list of evidence-based therapies. Psychedelics were not on the radar until preclinical evidence in mice suggested potential benefits. After successfully quantifying the effects of psilocybin in humans, noting reduced inflammation and a remarkable metabolic reset that improved his blood glucose levels significantly, he turned his attention to 5-MeO-DMT. The goal was to see if it could 'smooth out the barnacles that accumulate' in the brain, akin to psilocybin but with potentially more potent effects.

The profound shift in perception and behavior

Following the 5-MeO-DMT experience, Johnson reports a persistent change in his default mode network. He describes a newfound ability to navigate interpersonal conflicts with colleagues with a childlike directness and lack of defensiveness, contrasting it with adults who 'package up' grievances. He also noted laughing in a dream, a characteristic of children, and feeling a childlike excitement about new experiences. This renewal extended to his ability to make quick, witty remarks, demonstrating a significant shift in his disposition and interaction with the world. He feels profoundly renewed, a feeling he believes is unique and incomparable to other longevity therapies he has pursued.

Addressing the risks of psychedelics: psychosis and life changes

The conversation acknowledges the significant risks associated with psychedelics, including potential psychosis, schizophrenia, and scarring 'bad trips.' Johnson attributes many negative outcomes to unquantified, unsupervised use in inappropriate settings. He argues that with proper rigor, safety structures, and professional guidance, these risks can be mitigated, though he concedes that some individuals may not be suitable candidates. He also touches on the drastic life changes some individuals undergo after psychedelic experiences, where long-term commitments and relationships are abandoned due to a profound shift in perspective. While he has seen this occur, Johnson states that his own experience has emboldened him to continue his work rather than abandon his life.

The philosophical implications of identity and change

Johnson and the podcast hosts delve into the philosophical question of identity when neural pathways can be so dramatically rewired in hours. They question whether one is still the 'same person' after such a profound alteration, suggesting it's a more dramatic reconstruction than most life experiences, perhaps comparable only to a near-death experience. This leads to discussions about changing values, the rightness or wrongness of abandoning previous values and responsibilities, and the philosophical challenge of maintaining identity in a rapidly changing world, especially with the rise of AI. Johnson's own journey is seen through the lens of potentially needing 'psychoflexibility' to adapt to these accelerating changes.

Future frontiers: organoids, gene therapy, and mitochondrial augmentation

Looking beyond current interventions, Johnson discusses future therapies in the pipeline, including gene therapy and organoids. He is particularly interested in mitochondrial rejuvenation, exploring a therapy where mitochondria are encased in red blood cell envelopes for better cellular transport. He also plans to use his own induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to create organoids of his organs (heart, liver, lungs) to test molecules and therapies that could accelerate the understanding of their effects and side effects before human application. This 'P3 dish' approach bypasses the need for the 'old school' method of direct human application without prior testing.

The role of psychedelics in an accelerating world

Johnson posits that while advanced therapies like gene editing and organoid technology hold immense promise, psychedelics might offer a unique form of rejuvenation: preserving a youthful disposition towards reality. As ambition can narrow with age, he fears losing a 'can-do' attitude. Psychedelics, in his view, offer a 'wash' that snaps back this youthful outlook, providing a mental reset that other physical health interventions do not. He describes his 5-MeO-DMT experience as '30 to 40 years of psychological rejuvenation,' a unique benefit that complements, rather than replaces, his other longevity pursuits.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Drugs & Medications

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Common Questions

5-MeO-DMT is described as the most powerful psychedelic on the planet, estimated to be 5 to 10 times more potent than DMT. Its effects are profound, leading to an experience of raw consciousness and intelligence, though it is less visual than DMT.

Topics

Health & Longevity Neuroscience & the Brain Mindset & Self-Improvement Personal Transformation Psychedelic Therapy Ego Dissolution Future Of Medicine Longevity Research Cellular Rejuvenation

Mentioned in this video

Drugs & Medications

5-MeO-DMT

A powerful psychedelic substance, described as 5 to 10 times more potent than DMT, experienced by Bryan Johnson as a profound reset of consciousness and ego. It is noted for dissolving the default mode network.

psilocybin

A psychedelic substance studied for its potential longevity effects, showing reduced inflammation and dampening of the default mode network in mice and humans. Bryan Johnson previously experimented with it.

Metformin

A drug commonly used for managing blood glucose levels, mentioned in the context of longevity interventions. It is contrasted with the metabolic reset observed from psilocybin.

Ketamine

A psychedelic drug used therapeutically for depression, which Bryan Johnson previously studied with Kernel. Its effects are considered minor compared to 5-MeO-DMT.

Supplements

DMT

A psychedelic substance, used as a benchmark for comparison to the potency of 5-MeO-DMT. It is described as being more visual in its effects than 5-MeO-DMT.

Companies

Eight Sleep

A company whose product, the Pod, is mentioned as a popular sleep solution among tech leaders, utilizing AI to adjust temperature for improved deep sleep.

Software & Apps

Kernel

A brain interface technology used to measure the weakening of the default mode network during psilocybin use and to capture real-time EEG data. It is described as an optical interface.

Concepts

Default Mode Network

The network in the brain associated with self-awareness, ego, and rumination. Psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT and psilocybin are noted for dissolving or dampening this network, leading to potential psychological rejuvenation and neuroplasticity.

Yamanaka factors

Proteins used to induce pluripotency in cells, allowing them to become stem cells. The challenge lies in precise dosing to avoid cancerous transformations. New Limit is working on streamlining their discovery.

Products

Apple Vision Pro

Mentioned as a type of technology that could be enhanced by AI. It is presented as an example of where AI is making strides.

Organizations

New Limit

A company in which Bryan Johnson is an investor, working on computationally solving the discovery process for longevity factors, particularly related to Yamanaka factors. They have made significant progress.

People

Bryan Johnson

The subject of the discussion, who underwent a powerful 5-MeO-DMT experience for longevity research. He shares his subjective experience, the neuroscience behind it, and its implications for rejuvenation and personal identity.