Health - Olneys Lesions and Brain Damage

[BigDonJuan73]

Rats have 42 chromosomes, humans have 46. Genetically, we are very similar, like we are with many other species. It is the small differences in DNA that make us a human and a rat a rat. But if a rats’ brain was found to have post dissociative development of tiny holes (Olneys Lesions) after given high doses in Olney’s original experiment, wouldn’t it be fair to say human brains incurred damage from high doses as well? Given the fact our make up is so similar.

“The evidence is that ketamine and many other NMDA antagonists that have been tested in humans, cause an acute disturbance in neural circuitry that leads to psychotic manifestations. These same drugs cause the same disturbance in neural circuitry in rats and when we look at their brains we see evidence for physical neuronal injury.” John W. Olney, 2002.

More then a few people on this board claim to know someone who vowed never to use DXM again, complaining of long lasting cognitive impairment and memory problems, isn’t this evidence enough of obvious brain damage? Even a few days after a trip, the user is simply “dumber” and since alcohol, which damages the dendrites of the brain is not present; it’s obvious the DXM is causing some sort of damage to slow down the brain as well.

Although it could be true that overtime the brain would repair close (but never identical) to its’ original state, like when the brain recovers from alcohol. However, DXM seems to be far more severe in terms of the brain being able to repair itself effectively, many users say they generally feel different, unable to concentrate, have cloudy judgment, all signs that point to the brain being physically damaged and not communicating as well as it once had.

What do others think about Olneys Lesions?