# Test of knowledge/misconceptions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 17, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-of-knowledge-misconceptions/87914 "2001-10-17T05:01:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scotth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@scotth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-of-knowledge-misconceptions/87914/21 "2001-10-18T03:02:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panamajack \* > \*\* > By the way, does anyone actually know ( **Shagnasty** , maybe) what the lethal dose is and how it compares with the usual amount used? \*\* Estimated at least 5000 typical 100 microgram doses. I am impressed your high school was that accurate. When did you graduate? My understanding is that the directions are pretty simple, following them are pretty tough unless you have several years of organic chemistry… ---
**Author:** ![scotth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@scotth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-of-knowledge-misconceptions/87914/22 "2001-10-18T03:29:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panamajack \* > \*\* > By the way, does anyone actually know ( **Shagnasty** , maybe) what the lethal dose is and how it compares with the usual amount used? \*\* Estimated at least 5000 typical 100 microgram doses. I am impressed your high school was that accurate. When did you graduate? My understanding is that the directions are pretty simple, following them are pretty tough unless you have several years of organic chemistry… ---
**Author:** ![scotth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@scotth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-of-knowledge-misconceptions/87914/23 "2001-10-18T03:59:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by scotth \* > > \*\* > > 2) Chromosome damage/birth defects > > \*\* > > Well, according to this site, the evidence is inconclusive, but it looks like it’s an old paper. > [http://www.psychedelic-library.org/grofchro.htm](http://www.psychedelic-library.org/grofchro.htm) > Regarding flashbacks, there’s one study that suggests that LSD can contribute to them by affecting serotonin reception, from 1994. > [http://www.nida.nih.gov/DirReports/DirRep297/DirectorReport3.html](http://www.nida.nih.gov/DirReports/DirRep297/DirectorReport3.html) \*\* The first article concludes “As this review shows, no convincing experimental or clinical evidence exists to prove that the commonly used dosages of pure LSD produce genetic mutations, congenital malformations or malignant growths.” That seems pretty clear to me. The second article is much more interesting… I had not seen it before, thanks for bringing it to my attention. I wish it had much more detail there. I am not completely clear on the conclusion to be drawn. But it seems this might be pointing to the mechanism by which LSD works (at least visually), which has always been a mystery. There have been a number of studies concerning serotonin and LSD. It has been clear that LSD does indeed affect serotonin, but… there are other compounds that have an ever greater effect on serotonin with none of the effects of LSD… so that was considered a dead end in figuring out how it worked. HPPD is (in my mind) one few really credible side effects of LSD use. In all the literature I have read on it, it appears not completely clear if this is a real effect or not. Still worrisome to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-of-knowledge-misconceptions/87914.md?page=1)