Hello people,

On a relatively high dose of cubes (7g to 14g) I experience a disconcerting shock, or jolt or zap in the brain.

It is not a random experience as I can control whether to allow the zap or choose to dissipate it, generally I will avoid it.

The first time I realized I could control it was while lying down and breathing deeply thru my nose, with the zap building up with each in-breath. Deep breathing seems to function like a zap pump, but only on the in-breath, especially toward the end of the breath when lungs are nearly full. Eyes are always closed.

The zap is easily quelled by opening my eyes and staring at a light/candle.

Recently, on a particularly strong dose, I lay for the first 2 hours contantly trying to avoid being zapped. While laying there, fighting off the zap, I speculated as to the possible cause. I suspected that I had simply taken too much psilocin for my brain to handle while remaining in a physically still state. I sensed that my brain needed something to do, some sensory input, to enable it to cope with a psilocin overload.

So I got up, put on some deep house and started dancing. This proved to be very effective at completely dissipating the lingering tingling of the pre-zap state. I believe this is due to my brain then having an activity (dancing) to process.

I suspect this may have something to do with the way psilocin has been reported to dampen brain activity - with a large enough dose perhaps the extreme dampening may have a role to play in creating the condition for a zap as a protective measure. The reason why I think this may be the case is because an aspect of the zap often feels like a sharp disconnect between my brain and spinal column - like a clear cut right thru. In addition to the zap, my body will also jolt, lifting 2 inches off the mattress. Most unsettling indeed.

The zap is felt throughout my CNS, from the tips of my toes and fingers all the way up thru the brain.

Anyways, if anybody has some thoughts regarding zaps, please share.

You mentioned this happened while laying down? Close to drifting off almost? Ever since I had one shroom trip on low dose and experienced something similar on a come down, I have had what I believe to be "Exploding Head Syndrome" I know how that sounds look it up though on google. Its a legit thing, mine happens when I'm about to sleep sometimes, I will feel like you mention something controllable almost, but sometimes I don't notice it building then all of a sudden a white light flashes I hear a LOUD noise in my head, and its like someone crashed a gong over my head. sometimes painful does this sound similar?

I've experienced the same on occasion when I'm trying to sleep, and also during a couple of shroom trips. I had quite a few through my latest mushroom experience, gave me the impression my brain was being rewired.
Wasn't controllable in any way btw, they just came unexpectedly.

"Exploding Head Syndrome" LoL... didn't know the term but that's exac tly what it sounds like yes

Hi Toxsin, thanks for pointing out the "exploding Head Syndrom' syndrome - first I've heard of it.

The wiki page describes fatigue as a possible cause, which is probably the case with my experience. Will make sure I'm well fed and rested before venturing in again.

Though the symptoms as described on the wiki are indeed similar, mine are less of a extremely loud noise and more of a sharp neuro-electrical buzz, with onset ramp to zap induced by the in-breath. Just as its about to hit I open my eyes and the build up is stalled on the verge.

Observed that as the body and mind relaxes into the experience, gradually breathing more and more deeply, the brain begins to tingle in proportion to dosage. Low dose induces mild pre-zap buzz at the end of in-breath, high dose easily induce (very disconcerting) power zap in a few deep breaths. While I mentioned this occurs while laying down, I believe it is more a case of being still, in whatever posture.

Its a bit of a mystery to me, as most of what I've found on the web regarding such experience relates to SSRI discontinuation syndrome, which is a category of substances I've always avoided.