Investigating Hypo‐Egoic Features: Ayahuasca's Psychedelic Path Versus Meditation's Mindful Journey

Ego dissolution, a temporary state of reduced self-referential processing and increased unity with the environment, can be modulated by both psychedelics like ayahuasca and contemplative practices like meditation. In a comparison of 37 ayahuasca users and 137 meditators, meditators scored significantly higher on the 'Delusion of Me' index, which measures acceptance, decentering, and non-attachment. While meditation practice showed a significant non-linear association with cumulative practice and higher scores, repeated ayahuasca exposure showed no evidence of a cumulative association with the index in this sample.

Study at a glance

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: 'Ego dissolution' refers to a temporary state characterized by diminished self-referential processing, which leads to a breakdown of personal boundaries and an enhanced sense of unity with the environment. Both psychedelics, such as ayahuasca, and contemplative practices, like meditation, have been proposed as mechanisms for modulating the ego. While ayahuasca induces transient self-perception alterations, meditation promotes more sustained changes through cognitive and emotional regulation. This study examines whether ayahuasca consumption modulates the ego and compares its effects with those of meditation. METHODS: A total of 37 ayahuasca users and 137 meditators participated. We used the "Delusion of Me" (DoM) index, a unidimensional self-report measure comprising three domains: acceptance, decentering, and non-attachment. It could be considered closely related to the concept of self 'as a content' and may potentially serve as a measure of ego. RESULTS: Meditators exhibited significantly higher DoM scores than ayahuasca users. The quadratic regression did not show a cumulative effect, with no significant relationship found between the number of ayahuasca sessions and DoM scores. CONCLUSIONS: Meditation practice correlated with higher DoM scores and cumulative practice showed a significant non-linear association with DoM. Conversely, repeated ayahuasca exposure demonstrated no evidence of a cumulative association in this sample.