Ayahuasca-inspired DMT/HAR formulation reduces brain differentiation between self and other faces.
Dila Suay, Helena Aicher, Micheal Kometer, Michael J Mueller, Luzia Caflisch, Alexandra Hempe, Camilla P Steinhart, Claudius Elsner, Ilhui A Wicki, Jovin Müller, Daniel Meling, Dario Dornbierer, Milan Scheidegger, Davide Bottari
Neuroimage June 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121247 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Healthy male participants |
| Interventions | DMT/HAR formulation Harmine alone Placebo |
| Topics | Ayahuasca Ego dissolution DMT |
| Keywords | Event-related potentials erps Face recognition P300 component Psychedelics Self-referential processing Consciousness Self-perception Mental health |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | A DMT/harmine formulation reduced the neural differentiation between self and other faces in the P300 wave, indicating diminished self-referential processing. |
Abstract
Psychedelics are known to profoundly alter perception and self-referential processing, yet their specific effects on face recognition -particularly with regard to the recognition of face familiarity-remain underexplored. This study investigates the effects of an ayahuasca-inspired novel DMT/HAR (N,N-dimethyltryptamine/Harmine) formulation and Harmine alone on face recognition and self-referential processing, as measured by event-related potentials (ERPs) and subjective behavioral measures. In a within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 30 healthy male participants underwent EEG recording during a visual oddball task involving Self, Familiar, and Unknown Faces. The study compared the effects of a DMT/HAR formulation, Harmine alone, and Placebo on key visual ERP components: P1, N170, and P300. DMT/HAR increased the P1 and decreased the N170 amplitudes across all face categories, indicating enhanced early visual responsiveness and disrupted face structural encoding. Crucially, DMT/HAR reduced the neural differentiation between self and other faces occurring within the P300 wave compared to Harmine alone, and Placebo. Familiar face processing remained stable across conditions, suggesting that socially meaningful representations were preserved despite psychedelic-induced perceptions shifts. While broadly disrupting early visual processing across face categories, the DMT/HAR formulation selectively attenuated the neural distinction between self and other faces, revealing a potential neural correlate of diminished self-referential processing. This effect underscores the serotonergic modulation of face recognition and suggests a reorganization of self-related neural dynamics under psychedelics. By reducing self-other differentiation, psychedelics may promote cognitive and emotional flexibility. These mechanisms could support therapeutic effects in conditions marked by rigid self-focus, such as depression and social anxiety, offering new perspectives on their clinical application.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on DMT, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans Experienced hallucinogen users | 1994 | Double-blind, saline placebo-controlled, randomized study | n = 12 |
| DMT Models the Near-Death Experience Healthy participants | 2018 | Within-subjects placebo-controlled study | n = 13 |
| Human brain effects of DMT assessed via EEG-fMRI. Healthy volunteers | 2023 | Within-subjects, placebo-controlled design | n = 20 |
| Psychological Effects of (S)-Ketamine and N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): A Double-Blind, Cross-Over Study in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers | 2005 | Double-blind crossover study | n = 9 |
| Differential tolerance to biological and subjective effects of four closely spaced doses of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in humans Experienced hallucinogen users | 1996 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 13 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Combined DMT-harmine formulation reduces negative self-referential emotions during social self-evaluation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology July 14, 2026
- Effects of ayahuasca on neuropsychological performance and social cognition: A systematic review. Journal of Psychopharmacology March 9, 2026
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