A groundbreaking study has uncovered fascinating new insights into the effects of DMT, a powerful naturally occurring psychedelic. Known as the primary psychoactive compound in ayahuasca, the hallucinogenic brew has been used for thousands of years in Central and South American rituals and ceremonies. German-Canadian chemist Richard Manske first synthesized the compound in 1931, and ever since, the enigmatic substance has captivated researchers and enthusiasts alike.
The research conducted at Imperial College London examined brain imaging data from 20 healthy volunteers to explore how DMT (dimethyltryptamine) alters brain function. The results showed increased connectivity and communication between various brain areas and systems during the intense DMT experience. The changes in brain activity were most prominent in regions associated with higher-level functions, such as imagination.
Published in PNAS, the study examined brain activity before during and after a DMT experience. One of the study’s authors wrote, “This work is exciting as it provides the most advanced human neuroimaging view of the psychedelic state to-date.”
The study found that the effects of psychedelics (e.g. LSD, psilocybin) are widespread, affecting the entire brain rather than just specific, isolated regions. The primary effect of psychedelics like DMT is the disruption of activity in the transmodal association cortex pole (TOP), a crucial brain region responsible for integrating information from various sensory modalities (e.g. vision, hearing) and cognitive functions (e.g. attention, memory). This global brain action of psychedelics may lead to secondary effects, such as decreased communication between sensorimotor modules, as the experience progresses. The study also observed reduced communication between brain regions responsible for processing sensory input and coordinating motor actions. These are located at the lower end of the cortex’s principal organizational gradient (i.e., the hierarchical arrangement of brain regions).
The researchers suggest that the main effect of psychedelics on the brain is the dysregulation of activity in the TOP, and the reduced communication between sensorimotor modules may happen later in time as a result of this primary action.
As we delve deeper into the mysteries of DMT and other psychedelics, this groundbreaking study offers a tantalizing glimpse into the complex interactions between these substances and the human brain. By shedding light on the workings of DMT, researchers may pave the way for a better understanding of consciousness and the potential therapeutic applications of these extraordinary compounds.
“These phenomena, termed ‘network disintegration and desegregation’ and increased ‘global functional connectivity’, align with previous studies with other psychedelics. The changes to activity were most prominent in brain areas linked with ‘higher level’, human-specific functions, such as imagination.” According to the authors of the study.
The team now hopes to prolong DMT’s psychedelic “peak” through a continuous infusion protocol.
Study:
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2218949120
Press Release: