In a 1950s medical experiment, artist made illustrations after taking LSD

The US government used to do some bizarre drug experiments a few decades ago, and one of the experiments, which took place in the 1950s, was designed to find out how LSD affected artistic expression.

The test you will learn next was conducted by University of California psychiatrist Oscar Janiger, who was known for his studies on lysergic acid.

Basically, he asked an artist to use the drug and from time to time make an illustration that showed what the experiment was like. The following nine images show the versions made by the artist as his perception gets more and more altered. Check out:

1 - After 20 minutes of the first dose of LSD

Here, the artist draws normally, without feeling any effect of the drug.

2 - Here we have a drawing made 85 minutes after the first dose and 20 minutes after the second dose.

The artist feels euphoric and, according to Janiger, seems to have difficulty controlling his hands.

3 - Two hours and 30 minutes after taking the first dose

The artist is now focused on the drawing he makes. He reports feeling his awareness focused only on his hand, his elbow and his tongue.

4 - Two hours and 35 minutes after the first dose

Here the artist criticizes his drawing and says he will try again.

5 - Time: 2 hours and 35 minutes after the first dose.

This other drawing is made quickly. The artist begins to laugh and is startled by something he sees on the floor.

6 - Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes after the first dose

The artist is agitated and tries to climb a box. Once the doctor reminds him of his task, he slowly draws again and can barely communicate verbally.

7 - Four hours and 25 minutes after the first dose

After the sixth drawing, the artist spent two hours lying down, waving his hands in the air. His return to activity is sudden, and he says this will be his best drawing. He claims that if he is not careful, he will lose control of his movements.

8 - Time: 5 hours and 45 minutes after the first dose

The artist moves around the room and takes more than an hour to make another drawing again. He says he once again felt his knees, which were beginning to disappear. It also states that the pencil is very difficult to hold.

9 - Eight hours after the first dose

The artist sits and reports that the effect is over, except that he still sees distorted faces. The final design is done with little enthusiasm and he claims to have nothing to say about him, which he considers to be bad and uninteresting. “I want to go home now, ” he concludes.

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