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    Acute Effects of Ayahuasca on Neuropsychological Performance

    11.06.2013

    Acute effects of ayahuasca on neuropsychological performance: differences in executive function between experienced and occasional users

    Authors:
    José Carlos Bouso, Josep Maria Fábregas, Rosa Maria Antonijoan, Antoni Rodríguez-Fornells, and Jordi Riba.

    Journal:
    Psychopharmacology

    Year:
    2013

     

    About the study

    This study examines what are the acute effects of ayahuasca on neuropsychological performance, focusing on working memory and executive function, as well as the differences in the latter measurement among experienced and occasional users of this indigenous admixture.

    A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered before and during the acute effects of ayahuasca. Additionally, we also explored the role of prior experience with ayahuasca in the degree of impairment observed.
     
    The acute administration of ayahuasca led to mixed effects on neuropsychological performance, negatively affecting working memory but not stimulus–response interference. Detrimental effects on higher cognition were observed in the occasional users but not in the experienced users.

     

    Abstract

    Background: Ayahuasca, a South American psychotropic plant tea containing the psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonist N,N-dimethyltryptamine, has been shown to increase regional cerebral blood flow in prefrontal brain regions after acute administration to humans. Despite interactions at this level, neuropsychological studies have not found cognitive deficits in abstinent long-term users.

    Objectives: Here, we wished to investigate the effects of acute ayahuasca intake on neuropsychological performance, specifically on working memory and executive function.

    Methods: Twenty-four ayahuasca users (11 long-term experienced users and 13 occasional users) were assessed in their habitual setting using the Stroop, Sternberg, and Tower of London tasks prior to and following ayahuasca intake.

    Results: Errors in the Sternberg task increased, whereas reaction times in the Stroop task decreased and accuracy was maintained for the whole sample following ayahuasca intake. Interestingly, results in the Tower of London showed significantly increased execution and resolution times and number of movements for the occasional but not the experienced users. Additionally, a correlation analysis including all subjects showed that impaired performance in the Tower of London was inversely correlated with lifetime ayahuasca use.

    Conclusions: Acute ayahuasca administration impaired working memory but decreased stimulus-response interference. Interestingly, detrimental effects on higher cognition were only observed in the less experienced group. Rather than leading to increased impairment, greater prior exposure to ayahuasca was associated with reduced incapacitation. Compensatory or neuromodulatory effects associated with long-term ayahuasca intake could underlie preserved executive function in experienced users.

     

    Link to the article

     

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    Photo by Arun Geetha Viswanathan on Unsplash.
     

    Categories: Studies & papers , Ayahuasca
    Tags: ayahuasca , scientific research , study , psychoactive , psychedelics , hallucinogens , neuropsychology