Shared functional connectome fingerprints following ritualistic ayahuasca intake.
Pablo Mallaroni, Natasha L. Mason, Lilian Kloft, Johannes T. Reckweg, Kim van Oorsouw, Stefan W. Toennes, Hanna M. Tolle, Enrico Amico, Johannes G. Ramaekers
Neuroimage 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120480 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subject study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 21 |
| Population | Santo Daime members |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Duration | Acute |
| Topics | Ayahuasca DMT |
| Keywords | Entheogens Brain connectivity connectome Neuroimaging FMRI Brain scanning Connectome fingerprints Individual differences Psychedelics,5-ht2a Psychedelics ayahuasca Hallucinogens Neural networks Brain patterns |
| Citations | 17 |
| Key points | Ayahuasca reduces the idiosyncrasy of functional connectomes and reallocates keypoint edges, with interindividual differences in higher-order connectivity motifs predicting perceptual drug effects. |
Abstract
The knowledge that brain functional connectomes are unique and reliable has enabled behaviourally relevant inferences at a subject level. However, whether such "fingerprints" persist under altered states of consciousness is unknown. Ayahuasca is a potent serotonergic psychedelic which produces a widespread dysregulation of functional connectivity. Used communally in religious ceremonies, its shared use may highlight relevant novel interactions between mental state and functional connectome (FC) idiosyncrasy. Using 7T fMRI, we assessed resting-state static and dynamic FCs for 21 Santo Daime members after collective ayahuasca intake in an acute, within-subject study. Here, connectome fingerprinting revealed FCs showed reduced idiosyncrasy, accompanied by a spatiotemporal reallocation of keypoint edges. Importantly, we show that interindividual differences in higher-order FC motifs are relevant to experiential phenotypes, given that they can predict perceptual drug effects. Collectively, our findings offer an example of how individualised connectivity markers can be used to trace a subject's FC across altered states of consciousness.