Daytime Ayahuasca administration modulates REM and slow-wave sleep in healthy volunteers
Psychopharmacology November 20, 2007 Manel J. Barbanoj, Jordi Riba, S. Clos et al. 74 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional South American psychoactive beverage containing DMT and beta-carboline alkaloids, did not impair subjective sleep quality or disrupt sleep initiation and maintenance in 22 healthy male volunteers, unlike d-amphetamine which delayed sleep onset, disrupted maintenance, and reduced deep sleep. Both ayahuasca and d-amphetamine reduced REM sleep duration and increased high-frequency EEG power during stage 2 sleep. However, while d-amphetamine decreased slow-wave sleep power in the first night cycle (an indicator of sleep pressure), ayahuasca enhanced it. The findings suggest that serotonergic psychedelics interact with brain circuits regulating REM and slow-wave sleep.