Ritualistic use of ayahuasca enhances a shared functional connectome identity with others
Pablo Mallaroni, Natasha L. Mason, Lilian Kloft, Johannes T. Reckweg, Kim van Oorsouw, Stefan W. Toennes, Hanna M. Tolle, Enrico Amico, Johannes G. Ramaekers
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) October 11, 2022 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.07.511268 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subject study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 21 |
| Population | Members of the Santo Daime church |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Duration | Acute |
| Topics | Ayahuasca Serotonin |
| Keywords | Connectome Resting State FMRI Functional connectivity Consciousness Cognitive psychology |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Connectome fingerprinting revealed a shared functional space and spatiotemporal reallocation of keypoint edges, with interindividual differences in higher-order functional connectivity motifs predicting perceptual drug effects. |
Abstract
Abstract The knowledge that brain functional connectomes are both unique and reliable has enabled behaviourally relevant inferences at a subject level. However, it is unknown whether such “fingerprints” persist under altered states of consciousness. Ayahuasca is a potent serotonergic psychedelic which elicits a widespread dysregulation of functional connectivity. Used communally in religious ceremonies, its shared use may highlight relevant novel interactions between mental state and FC inherency. 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 a shared functional space, accompanied by a spatiotemporal reallocation of keypoint edges. Importantly, we show that interindividual differences in higher-order FCs motifs are relevant to experiential phenotypes, given that they can predict perceptual drug effects. Collectively, our findings offer an example as to how individualised connectivity markers can be used to trace a subject’s functional connectome across altered states of consciousness.