Altered State of Consciousness and Mental Imagery as a Function of N, N-dimethyltryptamine Concentration in Ritualistic Ayahuasca Users
Johannes G. Ramaekers, Pablo Mallaroni, Lilian Kloft, Johannes T. Reckweg, Stefan W. Toennes, Kim van Oorsouw, Natasha L. Mason
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 2023 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational, baseline controlled study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Members of the Santo Daime church |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Dose | self-selected volume |
| Topics | Ayahuasca DMT 5-MeO-DMT Altered states of consciousness |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Consciousness research Religious rituals |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca's primary phenomenological effects (oceanic boundlessness, visual restructuring, ego dissolution) are driven by DMT concentration, but mental imagery capacity did not noticeably differ between sober and ayahuasca conditions in long-term Santo Daime members. |
Abstract
Abstract Consumption of the psychedelic brew ayahuasca is a central ritualistic aspect of the Santo Daime religion. The current observational, baseline controlled study was designed to assess whether members (n = 24) of the Santo Daime church would show enhanced capacity for mental imagery during an ayahuasca experience. In addition, this study assessed whether the effects of ayahuasca on consciousness and mental imagery were related to peak serum concentration of N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the main psychoactive component. Measures of altered states of consciousness (5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire) and ego dissolution (Ego Dissolution Inventory [EDI]) as well as measures of mental imagery (visual perspective shifting, vividness of visual imagery, cognitive flexibility, associative thinking) were taken on two subsequent days on which members of Santo Daime were sober or drank a self-selected volume of ayahuasca. Measures of altered states of consciousness revealed that feelings of oceanic boundlessness, visual restructuralization, and EDI increased most prominently after drinking and shared a positive correlation with peak DMT concentration. Measures of mental imagery did not noticeably differ between the baseline and ayahuasca condition, although subjective ratings of cognitive flexibility were lower under ayahuasca. Two measures related to mental imagery, that is, perspective shifts and cognitive flexibility, were significantly correlated to peak DMT concentrations. Peak concentrations of DMT and other alkaloids did not correlate with ayahuasca dose. These findings confirm previous notions that the primary phenomenological characteristics of ayahuasca are driven by DMT. Compensatory or neuroadaptive effects associated with long-term ayahuasca intake may have mitigated the acute impact of ayahuasca in Santo Daime members on mental imagery.