Acute Biphasic Effects of Ayahuasca

Author(s):Show less -

Schenberg, Eduardo Ekman ^[1] ; Morel Alexandre, Joao Felipe ^[2] ; Filev, Renato ^[1] ; Cravo, Andre Mascioli ^[2] ; Sato, Joao Ricardo ^[2] ; Muthukumaraswamy, Suresh D. ^{[3, 4]} ; Yonamine, Mauricio ^[5] ; Waguespack, Marian ^[6] ; Lomnicka, Izabela ^[6] ; Barker, Steven A. ^[6] ; da Silveira, Dartiu Xavier ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Matemat Comp & Cognicao, Santo Andre - Brazil

^[3] Univ Auckland, Sch Pharm, Auckland 1 - New Zealand

^[4] Univ Auckland, Sch Psychol, Auckland 1 - New Zealand

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Anal Clin & Toxicol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Louisiana State Univ, Sch Vet Med, Dept Comparat Biomed Sci, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 10, n. 9 SEP 30 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 20

Abstract

Ritual use of ayahuasca, an amazonian Amerindian medicine turned sacrament in syncretic religions in Brazil, is rapidly growing around the world. Because of this internationalization, a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms of action of the brew and the neural correlates of the modified states of consciousness it induces is important. Employing a combination of electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and quantification of ayahuasca's compounds and their metabolites in the systemic circulation we found ayahuasca to induce a biphasic effect in the brain. This effect was composed of reduced power in the alpha band (8-13 Hz) after 50 minutes from ingestion of the brew and increased slow- and fast-gamma power (30-50 and 50-100 Hz, respectively) between 75 and 125 minutes. Alpha power reductions were mostly located at left parieto-occipital cortex, slow-gamma power increase was observed at left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal and right frontal cortices while fast-gamma increases were significant at left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal, right frontal and right parieto-occipital cortices. These effects were significantly associated with circulating levels of ayahuasca's chemical compounds, mostly N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine and some of their metabolites. An interpretation based on a cognitive and emotional framework relevant to the ritual use of ayahuasca, as well as it's potential therapeutic effects is offered. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/11341-8 - Evaluation of the electrophysiological alterations on healthy subjects EEG during the effect of ayahuasca
• Grantee: Eduardo Ekman Schenberg
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/07540-3 - Statistical analysis of electrophysiological signals from the human brain during the effects of ayahuasca
• Grantee: Eduardo Ekman Schenberg
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 12/07699-7 - Neurophysiological assessment of ayahuasca's effects in humans
• Grantee: Dartiu Xavier da Silveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants