Lorenzo Pasquini1, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes2, Draulio B Araujo2. 1. Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America. 2. Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neuroimaging studies have just begun to explore the acute effects of psychedelics on large-scale brain networks' functional organization. Even less is known about the neural correlates of subacute effects taking place days after the psychedelic experience. This study explores the subacute changes of primary sensory brain networks and networks supporting higher-order affective and self-referential functions 24 hours after a single session with the psychedelic ayahuasca. METHODS: We leveraged task-free functional magnetic resonance imaging data 1 day before and 1 day after a randomized placebo-controlled trial exploring the effects of ayahuasca in naïve healthy participants (21 placebo/22 ayahuasca). We derived intra- and inter-network functional connectivity of the salience, default mode, visual, and sensorimotor networks, and assessed post-session connectivity changes between the ayahuasca and placebo groups. Connectivity changes were associated with Hallucinogen Rating Scale scores assessed during the acute effects. RESULTS: Our findings revealed increased anterior cingulate cortex connectivity within the salience network, decreased posterior cingulate cortex connectivity within the default mode network, and increased connectivity between the salience and default mode networks 1 day after the session in the ayahuasca group compared to placebo. Connectivity of primary sensory networks did not differ between groups. Salience network connectivity increases correlated with altered somesthesia scores, decreased default mode network connectivity correlated with altered volition scores, and increased salience default mode network connectivity correlated with altered affect scores. CONCLUSION: These findings provide preliminary evidence for subacute functional changes induced by the psychedelic ayahuasca on higher-order cognitive brain networks that support interoceptive, affective, and self-referential functions.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Neuroimaging studies have just begun to explore the acute effects of psychedelics on large-scale brain networks' functional organization. Even less is known about the neural correlates of subacute effects taking place days after the psychedelic experience. This study explores the subacute changes of primary sensory brain networks and networks supporting higher-order affective and self-referential functions 24 hours after a single session with the psychedelic ayahuasca. METHODS: We leveraged task-free functional magnetic resonance imaging data 1 day before and 1 day after a randomized placebo-controlled trial exploring the effects of ayahuasca in naïve healthy participants (21 placebo/22 ayahuasca). We derived intra- and inter-network functional connectivity of the salience, default mode, visual, and sensorimotor networks, and assessed post-session connectivity changes between the ayahuasca and placebo groups. Connectivity changes were associated with Hallucinogen Rating Scale scores assessed during the acute effects. RESULTS: Our findings revealed increased anterior cingulate cortex connectivity within the salience network, decreased posterior cingulate cortex connectivity within the default mode network, and increased connectivity between the salience and default mode networks 1 day after the session in the ayahuasca group compared to placebo. Connectivity of primary sensory networks did not differ between groups. Salience network connectivity increases correlated with altered somesthesia scores, decreased default mode network connectivity correlated with altered volition scores, and increased salience default mode network connectivity correlated with altered affect scores. CONCLUSION: These findings provide preliminary evidence for subacute functional changes induced by the psychedelic ayahuasca on higher-order cognitive brain networks that support interoceptive, affective, and self-referential functions.
Authors: Richard E Daws; Christopher Timmermann; Bruna Giribaldi; James D Sexton; Matthew B Wall; David Erritzoe; Leor Roseman; David Nutt; Robin Carhart-Harris Journal: Nat Med Date: 2022-04-11 Impact factor: 87.241
Authors: Richard J Zeifman; Nikhita Singhal; Rafael G Dos Santos; Rafael F Sanches; Flávia de Lima Osório; Jaime E C Hallak; Cory R Weissman Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2020-10-29 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Lorenzo Pasquini; Alissa L Nana; Gianina Toller; Jesse A Brown; Jersey Deng; Adam Staffaroni; Eun-Joo Kim; Ji-Hye L Hwang; Libo Li; Youngsoon Park; Stephanie E Gaus; Isabel Allen; Virginia E Sturm; Salvatore Spina; Lea T Grinberg; Katherine P Rankin; Joel H Kramer; Howard J Rosen; Bruce L Miller; William W Seeley Journal: Cereb Cortex Date: 2020-09-03 Impact factor: 5.357
Authors: Brian Rush; Olivia Marcus; Sara García; Anja Loizaga-Velder; Gabriel Loewinger; Ariane Spitalier; Fernando Mendive Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2021-05-19 Impact factor: 5.810