Psychoactives
November 17, 2023
Anna Beatriz Vicentini, Lucas Silva Rodrigues, Giordano Novak Rossi et al.
4 citations
In a single-blind study, university students aged 18 to 24 with harmful alcohol use received one dose of ayahuasca (1 mL/kg). Twenty-one days later, semi-structured interviews with six participants identified psychological elements linked to reduced drinking. Content analysis revealed categories including Positive Impacts, Substance Use Pattern, and Insights. Together, these categories suggest that insights and positive emotions from the experience may foster internal transformation, potentially leading to decreased alcohol consumption.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
May 31, 2026
Anna Beatriz Vicentini, Caio César De Paula, José Augusto Silva Reis et al.
A systematic review of 48 studies (14 experimental, 34 observational) covering 2016–2024 found that classic psychedelics—such as psilocybin and ayahuasca—most consistently increase the personality trait Openness and reduce Neuroticism. Changes in Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness were more variable. Microdosing was linked to modest reductions in Neuroticism and higher Absorption. Most studies used the Five-Factor Model. The findings suggest psychedelics can promote lasting personality changes, but contradictory results remain, and future research should combine experimental and naturalistic designs with longer follow-ups.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
March 9, 2026
Caio César De Paula, Anna Beatriz Vicentini, Lorena Terene Lopes Guerra et al.
A systematic review of 16 studies found that ayahuasca has distinct short- and long-term cognitive effects. In the short term, improvements in working memory and cognitive flexibility were observed, linked to neurochemical modulation of cortical networks. Observational studies reported increased empathy and emotion recognition, while experimental studies only found reduced reaction times in social cognition tasks. Long-term studies generally found no neuropsychological deficits, with some reporting improved memory and executive function. The review notes methodological limitations including small sample sizes, varied protocols, and potential learning effects, calling for more controlled, randomized studies.