Brief History of the Discovery of the Pineal Gland (Epiphysis)
The pineal gland is about the size of a grain of rice. . Galen (2nd century) was probably the first to describe it in the West. He thought it might be a valve to regulate the flow of thought from the lateral ventricles–cavities on each side–of the brain. Rene Descartes, the French philosopher, who made a number of rather remarkable scientific discoveries wrote about the gland 1500 years after Galen. In Descartes opinion the pineal was the “seat of the soul”. He also postulated a direct connection between the eyes and the pineal by means of “strings” in the brain. Also that the gland acted as an interpreter, indeed the chief interpreter of vision. Not only did the gland operate as an interpreter but it also directed the muscles to respond to objects in the visual field. This was done, Descartes believed, through the flow of humours passing through hollow tubes between the gland and the muscles.
Understanding the Concept of the Third Eye
The third eye, also known as the sixth chakra in Hindu tradition, or the pineal gland in modern science, is believed to be the center of insight, intuition, and spiritual awareness.
Serotonin, LSD, and the Third Eye
Few molecules can penetrate what is known in biology as the “blood brain barrier”. Those that do go directly to the neuron. After that it becomes a matter of their ability to imitate one of the neurotransmitters. Our neurons have a safety device for this type of situation. The neurotransmitters have a unique molecular shape and can only fit in a specific slot on the synaptic surface. Mind-altering drugs all operate on mimicking one of the neurotransmitters.
LSD happens to be one of the more famous antagonists. It not only penetrates the blood brain barrier but slips slyly into the transmission site inside the nerve cells themselves. It can mimic serotonin to the point where the body thinks its serotonin and consequently shoots it across the synaptic gap.
When LSD reaches the other side it is accepted but the LSD doesn’t carry the message any further. The impulse of electricity is redirected down less familiar pathways, pathways which have not been highly conditioned. Specifically LSD affects the oldest parts of the brain first (e.g. upper end of the spinal cord, medulla oblongata, cerebrum, pineal gland and hypothalamus region) then the bloodstream takes it forward into the immediate back brain (location of sight interpretation) up through the area of hearing, the cerebellum, other sense interpretive centers, and the motor areas.
Spiritual Consciousness and the Third Eye
In various spiritual doctrines, the third eye is portrayed as a gateway to higher consciousness.
LSD and Heightened Awareness
Psychedelics like LSD lead to heightened awareness and perception, which some interpret as the ‘opening’ of the third eye. These experiences often entail deep introspection and the sensation of ‘seeing’ beyond normal visual capacity.
