Neurophysiological assessment of ayahuasca's effects in humans

• Grant number: 12/07699-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Dartiu Xavier da Silveira
• Grantee: Dartiu Xavier da Silveira
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Eduardo Ekman Schenberg ; Maria Angélica de Castro Comis ; Mauricio Yonamine ; Suely Akimi Mizumoto

Abstract

Ayahuasca, Daime, Vegetal, Hoasca or Yajé (Yagé) are some of the many names attributed, by different cultures, to a plant decoction from the Amazon (made mainly with Psychotria viridis e Banisteriopsis caapi). The brew contains N,N-Dimethyltriptamine and also beta carbolines like harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, currently used by many Brazilian communities, mainly the Santo Daime and União do Vegetal (UDV) churches, that also have branches abroad. Upon ingestion, the brew elicits somatic, emotional and sensorial perceptual alterations, and also induces various cognitive alterations. We are conducting a series of investigations, including the use of the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS) - versão Brasileira, physiological ones like the electroencephalogram (EEG), heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and also analysing ayahuasca's metabolites in blood and urine as well as cortisol in the saliva. The analyses are going to be performed in a laboratory setting after administering dehidrated encapsulated ayahuasca to healthy, experienced volunteers. This protocol allows for the realization of a placebo session, to which the effects of ayahuasca will be compared.This project intends to cover expenses to the adequate execution of the experiments, evaluations, investigation, analyses and related publications. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SCHENBERG, EDUARDO EKMAN; MOREL ALEXANDRE, JOAO FELIPE; FILEV, RENATO; CRAVO, ANDRE MASCIOLI; SATO, JOAO RICARDO; MUTHUKUMARASWAMY, SURESH D.; YONAMINE, MAURICIO; WAGUESPACK, MARIAN; LOMNICKA, IZABELA; BARKER, STEVEN A.; et al. Acute Biphasic Effects of Ayahuasca. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 9, SEP 30 2015. (11/11341-8, 14/07540-3, 12/07699-7)