因此,研究大腦特定區域的大小,而非整體大腦的尺寸,並不是什麼新的策略;事實上, 這種方法最初是由顱相學家發明的。這門學問的創立之父高爾於一八一九年發表的論文題目就是:<整體神經系統及特別針對大腦部分之解剖學及生理學,以人類與動物頭部外形判定數種知性及道德傾向之可能性的觀察結果>(The Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System in General, and of the Brain in Particular, with Observations upon the possibility of ascertaining the several Intellectual and Moral Dispositions of Man and Animal, by the configuration of their Heads)。高爾認為每一種心智狀態的「傾向」會與相對應的大腦皮質區域大小相關;他還主張頭顱的形狀會反映其內部大腦皮質的形狀,所以可以用來推測個人的傾向,這點更是讓人半信半疑。顱相學在當時大為流行,這些學者會用觸摸頭部隆起部位的方式,來為求助者預測孩子的命運、評估結婚對象,或是篩選求職者。
裸蓋菇素的研究引起了美國中央情報局 CIA 的注意,不過不是因為什麼違法亂紀的問題,而是他們⋯⋯也想「瞭解更多」!1950年代 CIA 有項名為 MK-Ultra 2 的精神控制計畫,希望找到一些可以作為吐真劑、審訊和行為操縱工具的潛力藥物。他們的實驗藥物包括裸蓋菇素、迷幻藥 LSD、嗎啡、海洛因、一種萃取自仙人掌的致幻劑麥斯卡林等,並在監獄、醫院、學校,甚至從巧立名目的慈善基金會裡招募試驗對象。3
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