News & Media

May 1, 2008
Director's Corner - “If you remember the 60’s,
you weren’t really there.” - ‘Wavy Gravy’ (aka Hugh Romney)

Albert Hofmann, the chemist who synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and accidentally discovered its mind-altering properties died this week at the age of 102.

When I was a graduate student, certain episodes in science history captured my interest, and still stand out in my mind. A case in point is the story of the discovery of the hallucinogenic properties of LSD, the hallmark recreational drug of the 1960’s. (Remember Harvard Professor Timothy Leary - “Turn on, tune in, drop out…”)?

For more than a thousand years it was known that ingestion of poorly stored grain can produce a burning sensation in the limbs (St. Anthony’s Fire), hallucinations, convulsions, and gangrene. The culprit is ergot, a fungus that in addition to affecting brain chemistry, acts as such a powerful constrictor of blood vessels that it effectively cuts off circulation to the limbs, eventually leading to gangrene. In the Middle Ages, entire towns collectively experienced hallucinations (ergot riots), and in the late 17th century, it is thought that one impetus for the Salem witch trials was hallucinations induced by eating bread contaminated with ergot.

In 1943, Hofmann synthesized LSD, a major constituent of ergot, in order to explore it’s vasoconstrictive properties for possible use as a hemostatic agent in obstetrics. The hallucinogenic properties of pure LSD were completely unknown at the time. The following is an extract from his diary:

“Last Friday, I was forced to stop my work in the laboratory…I lay down and sank into a kind of drunkenness…characterized by extreme activity of imagination. There surged upon me an uninterrupted stream of fantastic images of extraordinary vividness accompanied by a kaleidoscopic play of colors…”

After recovering a few hours later, Hofmann deduced that his odd symptoms could only be explained if he somehow had ingested a small amount of the LSD powder he was working with at the bench, and he decided to do a “controlled” experiment on himself to test his theory. Accordingly, he ingested 0.25 milligrams of powder, thinking that this tiny amount would have only a minor effect. We now know that this is more than five times the effective dose. He spent the next 6 hours on the first documented psychedelic “acid trip”:

“…The following were the most outstanding symptoms: vertigo, visual disturbances; the faces of those around me appeared as grotesque, colored masks; marked unrest, alternating with paralysis; an intermittent heavy feeling in the head, limbs and the entire body, as if they were filled with lead; dry, constricted sensation in the throat; I felt as if I were out of my body.”

Probably the most significant outcome of Hofmann’s experiment was the realization that certain mental diseases were likely to have true biochemical origins.

Now, by the way, Hofmann was by no means the first scientist to self-experiment with psychoactive drugs. In the mid 19th century, the father of modern Neurology, Jean Martin Charcot of L’Hopital de La Salpetriere in Paris, famously took peyote (the source of mescaline) and doodled under its influence. One such doodle (see figure) hangs in the Charcot Library – it is filled with goblins and demons and odd animals…and in the centre, a sketch of a naked woman with the inscription in English, “I love you, Jennifer!” A very uncharacteristic outburst from the aloof, cool, and taciturn Professor Charcot, whose mother tongue was not English, and whose wife was not named Jennifer.

Please send any comments about the Director's Corner to David Colman

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Recent News & Events

Salary awards for outstanding scientists
The outstanding work of several MNI scientists was recognized by the FRSQ (Fonds de la recherche en santé du Quebec). Phil Barker, Associate Director and scientist, and scientist Tim Kennedy were named Chercheurs Nationaux and will each receive a 4 year salary award. These awards were given to only 6 scientists across Quebec this year. Ted Fon, neurologist and Parkinson’s Disease expert, received recognition and salary support as a Senior Chercheur, Fondamental, and Assistant Professors Neda Bernasconi and Eliane Kobayashi received Junior Chercheur salary awards. Their work as clinical research scholars highlights the ways new knowledge from clinical research can benefit patients. McGill Biomedical Engineering faculty member Christophe Grova, who completed his post doctoral training with MNI’s Jean Gotman, also received a Junior Chercheur award.

Another fling into Spring
Thanks to Anthony Bruce, the Neuro again celebrated the turning of the seasons by showcasing our multiple talents at the annual Spring Fling. With talents that continue to amaze friends and co-workers, MNI students and faculty as well as clinical and administrative professionals pulled out all the stops to entertain the large and always enthusiastic audience and bring joy to our hearts.

Former Fellows get together
Some of the neurosurgical fellows who trained at the MNI met at the recent American Association of Neurological Surgeons meeting in Chicago. Ron Pokrupa, former MNI surgeon, and Mark Preul, former fellow and now Director of Neurosurgical Research at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, met with colleagues to catch up on MNI news.

MNI starts a national public awareness campaign
A gift of advertising space is the start of a national public awareness campaign for the MNI. This creative gift was organized by the MNI’s Capital Campaign Co-Chair Dominic D’Alessandro, President and CEO of Manulife Financial. The ads will be seen on the pages of Ottawa Magazine, Toronto Life and Gardening Life magazines and will carry the tagline: The latest in wireless technology is all in your head. (Ads).

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Upcoming events

Palliative Care lecture, May 6
Dr Linda Emanuel, Director of the Buehler Center on Aging, Health and Society at Northwestern University, Chicago, will speak on “Understanding and implementing preferences for care” as the Sandra Goldberg Memorial Lecturer on May 6 at 5:30 pm in the McIntyre Medical Building amphitheatre. This annual lecture, organized by the Palliative Care Council, brings together people interested in palliative care from Montreal and from McGill and its partner institutions. The MNI provides support for this lecture through our neuropalliative care initiative. As part of this effort, Dr. Raymond Voltz, Director of the Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Cologne, visited the MNI in April to discuss the MNI’s expanding activity in neuropalliative care.

Brain Waves Gala, May 7
Students from 10 secondary schools in the English Montreal School Board will host the fourth annual Brain Waves Musical Gala at 7 pm on May 7 at the Leonardo Da Vinci Center, 8350 Lacordaire Blvd, St. Leonard. Funds from this fun event will benefit the MNI’s Brain Tumour Research Centre. For details, email Michael Talevi, telephone 514-352-6730 or Vince Lacroce, telephone 514 483-7200 local 5365.

Neuro Convocation, May 21
Each year, the Neuro Convocation reminds us that success comes through the contributions of many talented and dedicated people. On May 21, the Neuro community will honor George Karpati and Denis Melancon with Lifetime Achievement awards for staff; Cyril and Dorothy Reitman and Joel and Jill Reitman with Lifetime Achievement Awards for philanthropy; Lesley Fellows with the Promising Young Investigator Award; and the Neuro-Oncology team with the Award for Outstanding Team. The celebration will begin at 3 pm in the Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre and continue at the reception which will follow. All are welcome to attend.

Neuropsychology Day and annual Brenda Milner lecture, May 26
Stanislas Dehaene, Chair of Experimental Cognitive Psychology and Director of INSERM-CEA Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit in Saclay, France, will deliver the 11th annual Brenda Milner lecture on May 26. His lecture, “Is the brain massively parallel or single-core? Frontal lobe, dual-task and the limits of human consciousness” at 4:30 pm in the Jeanne Timmins amphitheatre, is the capstone of Neuropsychology Day, which also features poster presentations by students from the Cognitive Neuroscience group from 2-4 pm.

Canadian Neuroscience Association meeting, May 25-28
More than 1000 neuroscientists are expected at the Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN) meeting at the Hilton Bonaventure Hotel, May 25 - 28. This second annual meeting is jointly organized with the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addictions, and will feature sessions on the most current neuroscience research from across Canada. While attending the meeting, stop by the MNI booth or visit with students at the Graduate Program in Neurological Sciences booth. For more information, see www.can-acn2008.org.

My Tool Box workshop for health care professionals, June 6
A workshop on My Tool Box, a program in self-management for people with chronic illness, will be offered to health care professionals on June 6 from 8:30-12:00 in the MNI’s Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre. This spring, more than 84 participants enrolled in the 6 weekly sessions of My Tool Box, bringing the total trained to more than 100. The program, started at Stanford University, has been shown to be a real benefit for individuals with chronic illness. Some local participants will train to be volunteer leaders at a session in early June. To learn more about My Tool Box and the workshop, contact Deborah Radcliffe-Branch at 514 398-5442 or see www.mytoolbox.mcgill.ca.

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Congratulations to…..

Line Jacques, neurosurgeon with expertise in the treatment of pain, who was promoted to Associate Professor.

Peter McPherson who was promoted to Professor and named a James McGill Professor.

Stefano Stifani who was named a James McGill Professor.

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Director - David R. Colman, PhD
Senior Management - Mark Angle, MD; Phil Barker, PhD; Rob Dunn, PhD; Tom Gevas; Marilyn Kaplow; Elizabeth Kofron, PhD; Patricia O'Connor; Catherine Rowe
Neuro News: Elizabeth Kofron, PhD & Sandra McPherson, PhD

Please send any items for the Neuro News to Sandra McPherson or Beth Kofron.

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