PLoS ONE
September 30, 2015
Eduardo Ekman Schenberg, João Felipe Morel Alexandre, Renato Filev et al.
115 citations
Ayahuasca, an Amazonian plant-based brew used ritually in Brazil and increasingly worldwide, produces a two-phase brain effect. Electroencephalogram recordings and blood measurements of the brew's compounds (DMT, harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine, and their metabolites) showed that 50 minutes after ingestion, alpha brainwave power (8–13 Hz) decreased, mostly in the left parieto-occipital cortex. Between 75 and 125 minutes, slow- and fast-gamma power (30–50 and 50–100 Hz, respectively) increased across multiple cortical regions, including left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal, and right frontal areas. These brain changes were significantly linked to circulating levels of ayahuasca's active chemicals. The authors interpret these effects within cognitive and emotional frameworks relevant to ritual use and potential therapeutic applications.
Addiction Neuroscience
June 22, 2022
Fúlvio Rieli Mendes, Cristiane Dos Santos Costa, Victor Distefano Wiltenburg et al.
55 citations
Substance use disorder (SUD) affects millions globally, often impairing brain reward circuits and personal life. Treatments face challenges like limited availability and poor patient retention. A non-systematic review of studies published through December 2021 examined classic (LSD, DMT, psilocybin, mescaline) and non-classic (ibogaine, ketamine, MDMA, salvinorin A, THC) psychedelics for SUD. Results are inconclusive for LSD, DMT, mescaline, MDMA, and salvinorin A. Moderate evidence supports psilocybin and ketamine for alcohol use disorder, ketamine for opiate and alcohol withdrawal, and THC preparations for reducing withdrawal in cannabis and possibly opioid use disorder. Psychedelics appear more effective as adjunct therapy. More research is needed.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
June 26, 2026
Flavia Giaffone de Paiva Ferreira, João Ariel Bonar Fernandes, Renato Filev et al.
A scoping review categorized psychosocial protocols used in psychedelic research for mental health treatment. Seven categories were defined, reflecting distinct emphases on the substance, participant, research team, and sociocultural context. Although limited reporting and heterogeneity remain methodological challenges, the proposed parameters suggest a shared language to describe, compare, and examine psychosocial protocols across studies, reducing conceptual uncertainty. The review may facilitate research decision-making and support structured, replicable study designs while allowing flexibility for individualized and culturally responsive care. Explicitly defining the intended purpose of psychosocial protocols could improve transparent reporting and evaluation.
Figshare
December 3, 2015
Ekman Schenberg Eduardo, Felipe Morel Alexandre João, Renato Filev et al.
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