Ayahuasca enhances functional connectivity in the third visual pathway and mirror neuron networks: a crossover, multiple-dose functional MRI study.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the impact of psychedelics on social perception and cognition may be instrumental to unravel their therapeutic potential. We conducted a pharmacoimaging study to examine ayahuasca's effects on a key theory of mind region, at the core of the third visual pathway (TVP)-the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), which is involved in facial emotion recognition and social perception. Twelve healthy participants (mean age: 40 ± 6.6 years; four females) completed a crossover design with three conditions: 0.5 mg/kg N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 0.8 mg/kg DMT, and placebo, with 1-2 months washout intervals. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess pSTS functional and effective connectivity. The highest dose sig

SUBMITTER: Soares C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12936398 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature