The initial use of LSD in psychotherapy was not without valid basis. Although it is still unclear how LSD causes the Trip, it has been shown to be effective in treating a small range of mental disorders. Experiments have been conducted on its applicability to the relief of addiction, namely alcohol and nicotine. Because of its long-standing status as a Schedule I drug, getting federal grants to conduct experiments is a long hurdle, as are small test groups allowed to participate in studies. However, among several studies conducted on 15 people, approximately 80% (12/15) of patients abstained from any addictive behavior for 3 months after their initial (and only) dose. The hypothesis behind this could be sceudoscientific in that the neurologist believes that the LSD experience is so powerful, mystical and even spiritual; that it allows the individual to reconnect with themselves, their objectives and their priorities. In doing so, there is a revelation that is considered to be the reason why there can be such rapid changes in personality or behavior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay As neuroscience has developed, so has our understanding of the brain. It was initially thought that the brain stopped developing beyond the age of 21-25. However, we have recently discovered that neurons are generated continuously throughout life and, more importantly, the signals between these signals strengthen the strength of the connections. This is a concept known as neuroplasticity, where it is often said that "neurons that fire together connect." To further break this concept down into simple terms, imagine a dirt road in a forest; the more frequented the path, the more visible and engraved it becomes in the forest. The brain and neurons work remarkably similar to this and are continually changing due to all of life's thoughts, emotions and experiences. The hypothesis of using LSD to induce neuroplasticity in patients is not as far-fetched as it may seem. Again, reiterating that the mechanism behind the trip is not fully understood, however, what is known from FMRI is that LSD causes a free flow of information in regions of the brain that do not or rarely communicate. A stimulated region is located at the back of the brain, at the level of the visual cortex. We see communications with regions of the brain that are not normally stimulated at the same time. A very interesting example is the newly forged connection between the visual cortex and the somatosensory cortex. In this regard, there is the fusion of vision and the other senses; this leads to an experience known as synesthesia. This allows a person to experience things in a way never imagined before, where they can taste the color blue or see the vibrations of music. The final hypothesis as to why hallucinations are experienced is due to overall dysregulation of the brain, placing it in a state of chaos; and that the brain tries to make sense of the world by connecting patterns, which is supposed to be the often discussed kaleidoscopic hallucinations. To revisit the concept of neuroplasticity, it might be good to talk about brain development from childhood to adulthood. In this process, the brain is initially a smooth information connection. This is largely because children are discovering a world with so much unknown.