Chaos Solitons & Fractals
May 30, 2026
Tales Ramos Monteiro Dos Santos, Dráulio B. Araújo, Helcio Felippe et al.
Psychedelic states can help researchers understand how the brain reorganizes at a large scale. In nine people scanned before and after taking ayahuasca, topological data analysis of resting-state fMRI connectivity showed a nominal decrease in persistent entropy of H2 features—a measure of higher-dimensional topological structure—that did not survive correction for multiple comparisons and was not reproduced with signed correlations. Exploratory analyses of signal complexity found descriptive but non-significant increases. These preliminary, hypothesis-generating results highlight persistent homology as a potential framework for studying psychedelic-related brain changes, but replication in larger placebo-controlled studies is needed.
Psychedelics
May 16, 2026
Nádia Valéria Moreira Santos, Cristiane Ferreira Silveira, Camila Gutieres Dos Santos Soares Costa et al.
Interviews with nine Brazilian participants who took ayahuasca in neoshamanic ceremonies suggested that the experience helped reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Three themes emerged: motivations for seeking ayahuasca, strategies for strengthening psychological well-being afterward, and the perceived health benefits of the psychedelic experience itself. The ceremonial use of ayahuasca may offer a promising model of care, especially in communities with limited access to advanced medical treatment.
DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC))
May 12, 2026
Javier Calleja‐conde, Víctor Echeverry‐alzate, Marina Sanz-Sancristóbal et al.
Parkinson's disease involves progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, along with brain inflammation. Current medications only manage symptoms. This preclinical study tested N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the active compound in ayahuasca, which activates serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (causing hallucinogenic effects) and sigma-1 receptors linked to neuroprotection. DMT treatment produced molecular changes in the nigrostriatal pathway indicating reduced neuroinflammation and preserved neurons. Behavioral tests also showed symptom improvement. These results suggest DMT may modify disease progression in Parkinson's disease, supporting further research.
Psychedelic Medicine
May 9, 2026
Yitong Xin, Alan K. Davis, Susan Yoon et al.
People with higher psychological resilience before an ayahuasca retreat reported more intense acute challenging experiences, such as nausea or emotional distress. Resilience also moderated how those challenging experiences related to later meaning-making: among participants with higher baseline resilience, the link between acute difficulty and a subsequent search for meaning in life was stronger. The findings suggest that resilience may help individuals transform difficult psychedelic moments into psychospiritual growth, pointing to the value of incorporating resilience-building into retreat preparation and integration programs.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
May 1, 2026
S Pack, T Ellett, J Pham et al.
A 46-year-old man developed life-threatening serotonin syndrome after consuming ayahuasca at a retreat and later taking dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine. He presented with agitation, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and respiratory failure requiring intubation and intensive care. Treatment with cyproheptadine and midazolam led to full recovery within three days. The case highlights the dangerous interaction between ayahuasca's monoamine oxidase inhibitors and over-the-counter serotonergic medications, which can synergistically cause severe toxicity.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
May 1, 2026
María Arqueros, J L Fayos Soler, Ausiàs Cebolla et al.
Ego dissolution, a temporary state of reduced self-referential processing and increased unity with the environment, can be modulated by both psychedelics like ayahuasca and contemplative practices like meditation. In a comparison of 37 ayahuasca users and 137 meditators, meditators scored significantly higher on the 'Delusion of Me' index, which measures acceptance, decentering, and non-attachment. While meditation practice showed a significant non-linear association with cumulative practice and higher scores, repeated ayahuasca exposure showed no evidence of a cumulative association with the index in this sample.