Neuropsychological effect on long-term Ayahuasca use
Counseling And Psychological Services Dissertations (Georgia State University) June 2, 2022 Tiffany D Tucker 1 citation
Long-term, recurrent religious use of ayahuasca does not produce lasting neuropsychological effects. In a study comparing 12 ayahuasca users from the U.S. branch of União do Vegetal with 13 non-using controls, no differences were found between groups in connectivity of the default mode network (posterior cingulate cortex, angular gyrus, and medial prefrontal cortex) or in mood assessments. A positive association between sleepiness and connectivity in the right medial prefrontal cortex and angular gyrus was observed. The findings suggest that chronic ayahuasca use does not significantly alter brain network connectivity or mood, though larger samples could detect possible subtle effects.