The LSD Experiment
Two American psychologists, Howard Gardner and Abraham Maslow, wanted to illustrate the effect of the drug LSD-25 on the human mind, which they sought to present through a graphic artist.
LSD-25 is one of the most notorious drugs, used by the American government in the late 1950s on marines, in the hope that it would accelerate their thinking and eliminate their fear, even under the most inhumane conditions.
Of course, LSD-25 did not live up to expectations. Its effects on soldiers remain unknown to this day, and as we have come to expect, the files on this experiment were closed, just as the American government closed files on experimental atomic bombings and all other activities for which there is no reasonable or human explanation.
The two American psychologists were certainly curious about the drug's effect on the human mind, even if not to reveal this, so they issued an open call, to which a graphic artist named Nick Müller eventually responded.
During the experiment, the graphic artist had to draw the lead psychologist periodically while continuously being administered the drug LSD-25.
The first drawing was made 20 minutes after the first dose. According to the notes of the leading physician, no effect of LSD was detectable on the graphic artist.
After this drawing, Müller received the second dose of LSD. 85 minutes after the first drawing, the leading physician reported a state of euphoria.
Müller: "I see everything so clearly. The drawing, myself, you, everything... I can barely control the pencil; it's as if it has a life of its own, wanting to work by itself."
85 minutes later, this is what the graphic artist's drawing looks like.
The third drawing was made two and a half hours after the experiment began. According to the doctor, the subject appears extremely focused.
Müller: "The outlines are good, but I think they are a bit too vivid. What bothers me about the drawing is that the colors are constantly changing. It's strange that the lines are already there; I just have to follow them. I feel like my consciousness is in the part of my body I'm focusing on. I am the hand, my arm, my tongue..."
Two minutes later, Müller dissatisfiedly pushes aside the previous drawing and pulls out a new sheet of paper.
Müller: "The previous drawing was crap. The outlines were good, but I'm not happy with the overall effect, and I'm only now noticing that the outlines of my hand are also strange, I have no fingers, I can't draw properly like this... This also turned out badly. I'll stop and do another one."
Two hours and 35 minutes after the first dose, and 3 minutes after the previous image, the next drawing is completed.
Müller: "I will draw everything in one go... I won't stop... everything with a single line, that's how it will be perfect... it cannot be interrupted!" After completing the drawing, the graphic artist bursts into a fit of laughter, then notices something on the floor and stares intently at it.
Two hours and 45 minutes after the first dose, Müller tries to crawl into the box containing chalks and pencils and does not respond to anything from the outside world; he cannot be spoken to. It is impossible to communicate with him using words. He doesn't react to anything, then with great difficulty understands that he should draw another picture. He begins, talking to himself continuously.
Müller: "I am... everything is... your face... connected... who..." According to the doctor, Müller continuously hums. When the doctor asks what he is humming, Müller replies: "The music in my head... the sounds..."
Four hours and 25 minutes later, according to the doctor, Müller spent the last two hours quietly, lying in the corner, waving his hands. Then he suddenly got up and sat back down at the table. This time he chose watercolors and a brush instead of graphite.
Müller: "This will be my best drawing. It's like the first one, only much better. I need to be careful because my body is dominating me. I'm afraid I'm losing control over my movements. But this cannot happen, because I know. I know." For the last 10-15 brushstrokes of the drawing, Müller runs a lap from wall to wall before each hand movement.
Five hours and 45 minutes into the experiment. Müller walks around the room without stopping, examining the space. He inspects every crack, moves furniture, and switches the lamp on and off for minutes, observing the space and following the tiniest sounds. Then he suddenly stops and sits down to draw again.
Müller: "I feel my knees again; I think the drug's effects are starting to wear off. This turned out to be a damn good drawing, but I could barely hold the pencil, it was very heavy. (He had chalk in his hand)
Eight hours after the first dose of LSD, Müller sits on the bed in the corner, continuously noting that the drug's effect is wearing off, and he only occasionally sees his surroundings distort. He is then asked to make one last drawing; he sits down without any enthusiasm and starts working boredly.
Müller: "I have nothing to say about this drawing... It's crap... Bad and boring. Leave me alone, I'm going home."
Source: cowboysbooks
