Effects of ayahuasca on neuropsychological performance and social cognition: A systematic review.
Caio César De Paula, Anna Beatriz Vicentini, Lorena Terene Lopes Guerra, José Carlos Bouso, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Rafael G. Dos Santos
Journal of Psychopharmacology March 9, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/02698811261424212 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Human participants in observational and experimental studies of ayahuasca |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Neuropsychology Social cognition |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca shows short-term improvements in working memory and cognitive flexibility and long-term absence of neuropsychological deficits, with mixed effects on social cognition. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca has aroused increasing interest due to its therapeutic effects. However, its effects on cognition are poorly understood. Hence, a systematic review evaluating the cognitive effects of ayahuasca was conducted. This systematic review was conducted in accordance to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, SciELO, and LILACS using terms related to ayahuasca, neuropsychology, and social cognition, encompassing all studies published up to March 25, 2025. Human observational, experimental, and clinical studies assessing neuropsychological performance or social cognition following ayahuasca administration were included. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were independently screened by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved with a third reviewer. A total of 16 articles were selected, including observational (n = 11) and experimental (n = 5) studies. The results indicated distinct effects of ayahuasca on cognition. In the short term, improvements in functions such as working memory and cognitive flexibility were observed and attributed to neurochemical modulation of cortical networks. Regarding social cognition, observational studies have reported an increase in empathy and emotion recognition, while experimental studies have only observed reduction in reaction times. Long-term studies in general did not observe neuropsychological deficits, with some studies reporting improved memory and executive function. Although these findings are promising, there are methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, diverse administration protocols, the observational nature of several studies, and possible learning effects. Further controlled, randomized studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and consolidate the evidence. The PROSPERO ID for this study is CRD42024559125.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): a systematic review of clinical trials published in the last 25 years Patients from included clinical trials | 2016 | Systematic review | |
| Risk assessment of ritual use of oral dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmala alkaloids Humans (ritual ayahuasca use) | 2006 | Systematic review | |
| Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review Participants from included studies | 2022 | Systematic review | |
| Ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, and psychosis: a systematic review of human studies | 2017 | Systematic review | |
| Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants in studies of psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms (Major... | 2023 | Systematic review with meta-analysis | n = 14 |
Citations in the library
Cites 74
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- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future. Neuropsychopharmacology April 26, 2017
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