Ayahuasca enhances the formation of hippocampal-dependent episodic memory without impacting false memory susceptibility in experienced ayahuasca users: An observational study.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) April 1, 2025 Manoj K Doss, Lilian Kloft, Natasha L Mason et al. 5 citations
In experienced users, ayahuasca acutely enhances recollection-based memory—the ability to recall specific details—without increasing false memories or affecting familiarity-based memory, a feeling of knowing. In an observational study of 24 Santo Daime members who had consumed ayahuasca over 500 times on average, participants completed a false memory task before and after taking a self-selected church dose. After ayahuasca, hit rates, memory accuracy, and recollection improved, while familiarity and false memory remained unchanged. The authors suggest that β-carboline activity in the brew may account for this recollection enhancement, which contrasts with past psychedelic research showing impaired recollection. Practice effects could not be ruled out, but multiple measures of false memory and metamemory did not improve across sessions.