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The Psychedelic Pineal 67 Byen before I began the melatonin study, my review of the literature indicated it might not be the spirit molecule. I wondered if the pineal gland made other compounds with psychedelic properties. However, while still in the early stages of my career, and well before I began outlining my DMT project, I quickly discovered how controversial these ideas could be. In 1982 I undertook a year of clinical psychopharmacology research training at the University of California in San Diego. While I concen- trated mostly on the relationship between the thyroid gland and mood, I also learned everything I could about the pineal gland. One of my teachers was Dr. K., an authority on biological rhythms, melatonin, and sleep. Halfway through my fellowship training, I decided to share with him some of my nascent ideas about a psychedelic role for the pineal. We were walking along one of the innumerable halls of the San Diego Veterans' Administration Hospital. Our conversation was rambling and wide-ranging. There was a pause, and I took the chance.