Ayahuasca’s ‘afterglow’: improved mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in ayahuasca drinkers
Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner, Kirstie Soar
Psychopharmacology January 11, 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05445-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Ayahuasca drinkers (both naïve and experienced) |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Anxiety Ayahuasca Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive flexibility Cognition Clinical psychology Flexibility engineering Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 142 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca enhances mindfulness and alters cognitive flexibility in the afterglow period, suggesting these as possible psychological mechanisms for its psychotherapeutic effects. |
Abstract
The present study supports ayahuasca's ability to enhance mindfulness and further reports changes in cognitive flexibility in the 'afterglow' period occur, suggesting both could be possible psychological mechanisms concerning the psychotherapeutic effects of ayahuasca. Given psychological gains occurred regardless of prior ayahuasca use suggests potentially therapeutic effects for both naïve and experienced ayahuasca drinkers.