Emotion regulation effects of Ayahuasca in experienced subjects during implicit aversive stimulation: An fMRI study.
Journal of ethnopharmacology February 10, 2024 Tiago Arruda Sanchez, Lucas Rego Ramos, Felipe Araujo et al. 12 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian beverage, attenuates brain activity in the amygdala—a region central to fear processing—when people view aversive (fearful or disgusted) faces, while enhancing activation in the insular cortex and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Nineteen experienced male users underwent fMRI before and 50 minutes after ingesting ayahuasca. Self-reported anxiety and mental sedation also decreased. The findings suggest ayahuasca may promote emotion regulation in response to negative stimuli, with corresponding improvements in cognition.