Brain zaps

Thought loops can be described as the experience of becoming trapped within a chain of thoughts, actions and emotions which repeat themselves over and over again in a cyclic loop. They are most likely to occur during states of memory suppression and the failure of one's short term memory. This suggests that thought loops are the result of cognitive processes becoming unable to sustain themselves for appropriate lengths of time due to a lapse in short term memory, resulting in the thought process attempting to restart from the beginning only to fall short once again in a perpetual cycle.

• a sharp shock ran through my spine, making its way down into my chest and through my arms. And it kept on happening.
• electrical buzz felt in the head
  • The symptoms are described as brief but repeated electric shock-like sensations in the brain and head, or originating in the brain but extending to other parts of the body. Sometimes moving of one's eyes quickly from side to side has been shown to trigger brain zaps. Sometimes brain zaps are accompanied by disorientation, tinnitus, vertigo and lightheadedness.

This component can be extremely disorientating and often triggers states of progressive anxiety within the people who may be unfamiliar with the experience. The most effective way to end a cycle of thought loops is to simply sit down and try to let go.

Psychoactive substances

Compounds within our psychoactive substance index which may cause this effect include:

• 3,4-CTMP
• 4-AcO-DMT
• 4-AcO-MET
• 4-FA
• 4-HO-MET
• 6-APB
• 6-APDB
• MDA
• MDEA
• MDMA
• Psilocin
• Psilocybin mushrooms
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
• THJ-018

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe this effect within our experience index include:

See also

• Responsible use
• Subjective effects index
• Psychedelics - Subjective effects
• Dissociatives - Subjective effects
• Deliriants - Subjective effects