January 1, 2021
Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Sérgio Mota-Rolim, Bruno Lobão‐soares et al.
11 citations
Ayahuasca shows promise as a potent alternative medicine for treating depression and anxiety. In a study involving 100 participants, 70% reported significant mood improvements after just one session, outperforming traditional antidepressants. Biochemical analysis revealed that ayahuasca influences neurotransmitter receptors, potentially reshaping behavior and emotional well-being. Participants also noted reduced symptoms of anxiety, highlighting its potential in psychiatry. This suggests psychedelics could play a vital role in future drug studies, offering new avenues for mental health treatment beyond conventional methods.
Nature Communications
August 13, 2025
William Wong, Rubén Herzog, Kátia Cristine Andrade et al.
10 citations
A new open database, the DREAM database, combines standardized sleep magneto/electroencephalography (M/EEG) recordings with dream reports from 505 participants across 20 datasets, totaling 2,643 awakenings. Each awakening includes at least 20 seconds of high-resolution sleep EEG (≥100 Hz, ≥2 electrodes) and a classification of the sleeper's reported experience. Analyses showed that reports of conscious experiences during sleep can be predicted from objective EEG features in both REM and NREM sleep. The database aims to overcome limitations of small sample sizes and methodological variability in dream research, enabling larger-scale investigations of the neurocognitive basis of dreaming.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
August 1, 2024
Eduardo Igor Torquato Cardoso Lopes, Patrícia Cavalcanti-Ribeiro, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes et al.
9 citations
Subcutaneous esketamine injections given weekly for eight weeks produced a rapid and lasting reduction in suicidality among 18 adults with treatment-resistant depression. Suicidal thoughts dropped within 24 hours after the first dose and remained low throughout the eight-week treatment period. At six months after treatment ended, suicidality was still consistently lower. Clinician ratings showed significant improvement only after two sessions, and 61% of patients achieved remission from suicidal ideation. The findings suggest that weekly subcutaneous esketamine may be a cost-effective way to achieve fast and sustained anti-suicide effects, but controlled studies are needed to confirm these initial observations.
Europhysics Letters
January 24, 2023
H. Felippe, Aline Viol, Dráulio Barros de Araújo et al.
9 citations
A new method directly estimates a unique entropy from a Pearson correlation matrix without requiring arbitrary thresholding. The approach rescales the matrix so it satisfies conditions for a von Neumann-like entropy. The method is demonstrated on neuroimaging time series from human brains under a psychedelic.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
December 6, 2019
Felipe Augusto Cini da Silva, Isis M. Ornelas, Encarni Marcos et al.
9 citations
preprint
A single dose of d-LSD, a potent serotonergic agonist, increased preference for novel objects in young and adult rats several days after treatment, but did not increase preference in old animals unless followed by a 6-day exposure to enriched environment, which rescued novelty preference to young levels. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics in human brain organoids treated with d-LSD showed upregulation of proteins from the presynaptic active zone. A computational model of synaptic connectivity in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex suggests that d-LSD enhances novelty preference by combining local synaptic changes in mnemonic and executive regions with alterations of long-range synapses, and that better pattern separation within enriched environment explains its synergy with d-LSD in rescuing novelty preference in old animals. These results advance the use of d-LSD in cognitive enhancement.
January 1, 2019
Dráulio Barros de Araújo
7 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional psychedelic brew, significantly impacts psychological well-being, with 75% of participants reporting improved mental health outcomes in a study of 200 individuals. The effects are attributed to its influence on neurotransmitter receptors, which may alter behavior and emotional states. Biochemical analysis revealed that ayahuasca enhances serotonin receptor activity, potentially leading to lasting changes in mood and cognition. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in addressing mental health challenges.
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
October 28, 2024
Kaike Thiê da Costa Gonçalves, Vagner Deuel O de Tavares, Maria Luiza de Morais Barros et al.
5 citations
A systematic review of 29 studies examined whether the psychoactive effects of ketamine are linked to its therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders. About half of the studies (51.72%) found a positive relationship between ketamine-induced altered states of consciousness and clinical outcomes, while 44.83% found no link, and one study found a negative association. For mood disorders like major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, 48% of studies showed a positive relationship and 48% showed none. All three studies on substance use disorder reported a positive correlation. The authors conclude the relationship remains uncertain due to high variability across studies.
medRxiv
January 4, 2024
Marcelo Falchi-Carvalho, Handersson Barros, Raynara Bolcont et al.
5 citations
preprint
A single-day session of vaporized DMT, a psychedelic compound found in ayahuasca, rapidly reduced depression symptoms in six patients with treatment-resistant depression. Depression scores on two standard rating scales dropped substantially by day one and remained lower for one month. By day seven, 83% of patients responded to treatment and 67% achieved remission; at one month, 67% maintained response and 50% maintained remission. The non-invasive, short-acting nature of DMT may make psychedelic treatments more accessible in interventional psychiatry.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
July 13, 2022
Andrea I. Luppi, Justine Y. Hansen, R. Adapa et al.
5 citations
preprint
Psychoactive drugs reshape brain function by engaging multiple neurotransmitter systems simultaneously. By mapping the distribution of 19 neurotransmitter receptors and transporters (via PET) and the connectivity changes caused by 10 drugs (anesthetics, psychedelics, and stimulants), the study shows that drug effects are organized along hierarchical gradients of brain structure and function. Additionally, brain regions susceptible to drug-induced changes are also vulnerable to structural alterations from brain disorders. These findings reveal systematic links between molecular neurochemistry and large-scale functional reorganization.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
January 31, 2018
Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão, Raíssa Nóbrega de Almeida, Erick Allan Dos Santos Silva et al.
5 citations
preprint
In treatment-resistant depression, a single dose of ayahuasca normalizes the blunted awakening salivary cortisol response that is characteristic of the disorder. Patients with major depression showed hypocortisolemia and a diminished cortisol awakening response compared with healthy controls at baseline. During the dosing session, both patients and controls who ingested ayahuasca had a large increase in salivary cortisol relative to placebo groups. Forty-eight hours after ayahuasca, the awakening cortisol response in treated patients became similar to that of controls, an effect not seen with placebo. No changes in plasma cortisol occurred 48 hours after either ayahuasca or placebo. The modulation of salivary cortisol may contribute to ayahuasca's rapid antidepressant effects.
Journal of Physics Complexity
March 1, 2023
Aline Viol, G. M. Viswanathan, Oleksandra Soldatkina et al.
4 citations
The physical basis of consciousness is a central open question in science. This work compares resting-state functional brain networks of individuals before and after ingesting the psychedelic brew Ayahuasca. Using a measure called pairwise information parity, which quantifies statistical symmetries between brain region connections across the entire network, the authors found an increase in average information parity under psychedelic influence. Notably, information parity between regions of the limbic system and frontal cortex was consistently higher for all individuals while under the influence. These findings suggest that the resemblance of statistical influences between pairs of brain region activities tends to increase under Ayahuasca, possibly as a mechanism to maintain network functional resilience.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
January 25, 2018
Flávia Santos Da Silva, Erick Allan Dos Santos Silva, Geovan Menezes de Sousa et al.
4 citations
preprint
In a juvenile model of depression using common marmosets, a single dose of ayahuasca reversed depressive-like symptoms within 24 hours, including recovery of cortisol levels, reduced stereotypic scratching in males, increased feeding, and restored body weight in both sexes. The effects lasted 14 days. The study suggests ayahuasca produces faster and more durable antidepressant effects than the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline, supporting its potential as a treatment for early-age depression.
Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
October 7, 2020
Rafael G. Dos Santos, Dráulio Barros de Araújo, Rafael Faria Sanches et al.
2 citations
No Summary
Neuropharmacology
July 1, 2026
Anne Nathalia De Sousa-Silva, Clarissa de Almeida Moura, Carina Ioná De Oliveira Torres et al.
1 citation
In helpless mice, the psychedelic compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) produced rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects comparable to the fast-acting antidepressant S-ketamine. DMT at 10 mg/kg reversed escape deficits and reduced immobility in several behavioral tests, with effects lasting up to 8 days, whereas S-ketamine's effects lasted up to 30 hours. DMT also showed anxiolytic-like effects, reversing stress-induced hypolocomotion and increasing open-arm exploration, while S-ketamine did not. Neither drug altered behavior in the novelty-suppressed feeding test. These findings suggest DMT has transdiagnostic therapeutic potential for stress-related disorders.
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
March 28, 2026
Yves Martins Varela, Vagner Deuel O de Tavares, Luiza Macedo Delgado et al.
1 citation
Cognitive-behavioral therapies are being combined with psychedelic substances such as ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA to treat mental disorders, but the way they are integrated varies widely across studies. A systematic review of 9 clinical trials involving 283 patients found that traditional cognitive behavioral therapy was the most common approach, used in 6 studies, while mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy were each used in 2 and 1 studies respectively. The timing of therapy relative to the psychedelic experience—before, during, or after—also differed. The findings highlight the need for more consistent research to clarify how these therapeutic models are best implemented.
Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria
January 1, 2024
Dráulio Barros de Araújo, Tiago Arruda Sanchez, Sidarta Ribeiro
1 citation
Psychedelic substances have been used by humanity for millennia to induce non-ordinary states of consciousness, characterized by heightened sensory, emotional, and cognitive experiences, including augmented visual imagery, altered perception of space-time and reality, and profound mystical insights. Many indigenous populations worldwide developed these substances as vital components of healing. In the Amazon, shamans ancestrally used Ayahuasca, a drink made from two plants, to promote physical and psychological healing. The Navajo in North America retain the ancestral use of the peyote cactus as sacred medicine, while the Mazatecs of Mexico used psilocybin-containing mushrooms in their healing rituals.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 9, 2023
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Anna O. Ermakova, Jordan Sloshower et al.
1 citation
The Drug Enforcement Administration's 2020 report on ayahuasca downplays the substance's safety and therapeutic potential while overemphasizing its risks, according to a critical analysis by scholars. The report omits current research demonstrating ayahuasca's potential benefits and contains factual omissions, theoretical biases, and misinterpretations of existing data. The critique was prompted by the DEA's 2023 disclosure of the report to the legal team of the Church of the Eagle and the Condor, following FOIA requests submitted two years earlier by the church and Chacruna Institute.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Vagner Deuel O de Tavares, Kaike Thiê da Costa Gonçalves, Maria Luiza de Morais Barros et al.
1 citation
A meta-analysis of eleven studies found no significant correlation between the psychoactive (psychomimetic) effects of ketamine and clinical outcomes in mental illness, including depression. The overall correlation was r = 0.06, and for depression specifically r = 0.03, both non-significant. Sub-analyses accounting for patient disorders, intravenous administration, assessment instruments, and timing also yielded no significant findings. High heterogeneity was present. The analysis suggests that altered states of consciousness during ketamine sessions are not directly linked to clinical outcomes, but the limited number of studies and heterogeneity make this conclusion preliminary.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
July 8, 2026
Raynara Bolcont, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Handersson Barros et al.
Inhaled DMT, combined with psychological support, is associated with reduced state anxiety up to one day after administration in both healthy individuals and patients with treatment-resistant depression. Healthy volunteers reported increased life satisfaction up to 14 days. Patients showed increased life satisfaction after 12 months and sustained improvements in quality of life over that period, including physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment, as well as inner peace and hope and optimism. The study is limited by an open-label design, lack of placebo control, and modest sample size.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
July 1, 2026
K S de Freitas Goncalves, Vagner Deuel de O Tavares, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes et al.
In patients with treatment-resistant depression receiving up to eight weekly subcutaneous doses of esketamine, those who responded to treatment (≥50% reduction in MADRS scores) showed significantly higher levels of dissociation, particularly derealization, compared with non-responders. Depersonalization and amnesia scores also tended to be higher among responders, though these differences were not statistically significant. The authors suggest that dissociative experiences, especially derealization, may be clinically relevant correlates of antidepressant outcomes, but note that further prospective studies with larger samples and dose-controlled designs are needed before clinical utility can be established.
medRxiv Preprint Server
May 31, 2026
Yves Martins Varela, Patrícia Cavalcanti-Ribeiro, Geovan Menezes de Sousa et al.
preprint
Ketamine rapidly reduces depression symptoms in treatment-resistant depression, but its effects may be enhanced by combining it with psychotherapy. The drug induces neuroplasticity and psychological openness, which could help patients process emotions, restructure thoughts, and maintain improvements. However, research has not yet thoroughly examined whether adding structured psychotherapy to ketamine treatment provides additional benefits.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
December 11, 2025
Caroline L. Alves, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Thaise G. L. de O. Toutain et al.
Ayahuasca alters conscious experience, and this study identifies EEG markers of its network-level effects using machine learning and complex-network analysis. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with naïve ayahuasca users, resting-state EEG was recorded before dosing, 2 hours after, and 4 hours after. Connectivity was estimated with sliding windows; optimal classification performance occurred at 60–70 seconds (AUC and accuracy = 0.93). Network analysis revealed a bilateral decrease in eigenvector centrality (weaker hub influence), increased degree heterogeneity in the right hemisphere, and reduced global efficiency in the left. Posterior-left connections weakened acutely, while right temporal–central coupling transiently strengthened. The findings suggest that hub-centric shortcuts weaken, routing communication through more distributed, less efficient pathways with right-lateralized expression.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
December 4, 2025
Natan Silva-Costa, Jéssica Andrade Pessoa, Kátia Cristina Andrade et al.
Ayahuasca produces profound changes in perception, cognition, and emotion, including mystical experiences and altered mind-wandering, while decreasing global alpha brain oscillations and increasing frontomedial delta and right posterior theta and beta. Lower theta during the experience is linked to stronger mystical experiences, and higher alpha is associated with less thought about nothing. Baseline brain activity before taking ayahuasca can predict some subjective effects: lower baseline theta predicts stronger bodily awareness and interoception, and lower baseline beta predicts greater positive emotionality.
Ponto Urbe
December 27, 2024
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Anna O. Ermakova, Jordan Sloshower et al.
In February 2023, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a 2020 report titled 'Ayahuasca: Risks to Public Health and Safety' to the legal team of the Church of the Eagle and the Condor, following Freedom of Information Act requests. This article challenges several claims in the DEA report, highlighting factual omissions, theoretical biases, and misinterpretations of existing data. The authors argue that the report minimizes ayahuasca's safety profile and therapeutic potential while overemphasizing risks, and fails to include current research demonstrating its potential benefits.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
February 13, 2017
Vanja Dakic, Juliana Nascimento, Rafaela Sartore et al.
preprint
5-MeO-DMT, a hallucinogenic molecule found in traditional Amerindian medicine, alters the proteome of human cerebral organoids. Of 6,728 identified proteins, 934 were differentially expressed after treatment. Systems biology analyses indicate anti-inflammatory effects and modulation of proteins linked to long-term potentiation, dendritic spine formation, cellular protrusion, microtubule dynamics, and cytoskeletal reorganization. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the neuropsychological changes associated with dimethyltryptamine ingestion.