Ayahuasca’s ‘afterglow’: improved mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in ayahuasca drinkers
Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner, Kirstie Soar
Psychopharmacology January 11, 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05445-3 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAyahuasca enhances mindfulness and alters cognitive flexibility during the 'afterglow' period, suggesting these changes may be psychological mechanisms behind its psychotherapeutic effects. These psychological gains occurred regardless of whether participants had prior ayahuasca experience, indicating potential therapeutic benefits for both naïve and experienced drinkers.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Ayahuasca drinkers (both naïve and experienced) |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Anxiety Ayahuasca Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive flexibility Cognition Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 142 |
| Key finding | Ayahuasca enhances mindfulness and alters cognitive flexibility in the afterglow period, suggesting these as possible psychological mechanisms for its psychotherapeutic effects. |
Abstract
The present study supports ayahuasca's ability to enhance mindfulness and further reports changes in cognitive flexibility in the 'afterglow' period occur, suggesting both could be possible psychological mechanisms concerning the psychotherapeutic effects of ayahuasca. Given psychological gains occurred regardless of prior ayahuasca use suggests potentially therapeutic effects for both naïve and experienced ayahuasca drinkers.