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Predicting and exploring ayahuasca effects: Perception, mind-wandering, and EEG oscillations.
Natan Silva-Costa1, Jéssica Andrade Pessoa1, Kátia Cristina Andrade1
1Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|December 4, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca significantly alters consciousness and brain activity, with baseline EEG patterns predicting individual responses. This research offers insights into the neural mechanisms of psychedelic experiences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Psychedelics profoundly alter perception and cognition, yet their underlying neural mechanisms remain largely unknown.
- Understanding how psychedelics affect brain activity and subjective experiences is crucial for therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of ayahuasca on subjective experiences, mind-wandering, and electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations.
- To explore the predictive relationship between baseline EEG and ayahuasca-induced subjective effects.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 50 healthy volunteers.
- Ayahuasca or placebo administered, followed by assessments of subjective experiences (Hallucinogen Rating Scale, Mystical Experience Questionnaire) and mind-wandering (Amsterdam Resting-State Questionnaire).
- EEG data collected at baseline, 2 hours, and 4 hours post-administration to analyze neural oscillations.
Main Results:
- Ayahuasca induced significant subjective changes, including altered perception, cognition, emotion, and mystical experiences, alongside specific patterns of mind-wandering.
- EEG analysis revealed decreased global alpha and increased frontomedial delta and posterior theta/beta oscillations post-ayahuasca.
- Correlations showed lower theta linked to higher mystical experiences and higher alpha to less self-reported thought content. Baseline EEG predicted interoception and emotionality.
Conclusions:
- Ayahuasca induces significant alterations in consciousness, subjective experiences, and mind-wandering, accompanied by distinct EEG changes, notably decreased alpha oscillations.
- Acute theta oscillations appear inversely related to mystical experiences, while baseline theta and beta oscillations may predict interoception and emotional responses.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neurophysiological underpinnings of psychedelic effects and their prediction by baseline brain activity.
