The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network
PLoS ONE February 18, 2015 Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Kátia C. Andrade, Luís Fernando Tófoli et al. 461 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew used traditionally by Amazonian Amerindians, significantly reduces activity in key hubs of the Default Mode Network (DMN), specifically the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC)/Precuneus and medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC), as measured by fMRI in ten experienced subjects. Functional connectivity within the PCC/Precuneus also decreased after intake, while the orthogonality between the DMN and task-positive network showed no significant change. These findings suggest that the altered state of consciousness induced by Ayahuasca, similar to effects from psilocybin, meditation, and sleep, involves modulation of DMN activity and connectivity.