Autonomic nervous system activity correlates with peak experiences induced by DMT and predicts increases in well-being
Bonnelle, V., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Feilding, A., Nutt, D. J., Rosas, F. E., Timmermann, C.
This re-analysis of a single-blind study (n=17) investigates the role of the autonomic nervous system in DMT-induced peak experiences (20mg, iv). It finds that balanced activity between the fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest systems (sympathovagal coactivation) is linked to stronger feelings of spirituality and insight during DMT sessions and improved well-being two weeks later. The study also notes that a person's nervous system (sympathovagal) balance before taking DMT can predict how insightful their experience will be.
Abstract
Background: Non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by psychedelics can be accompanied by so-called “peak experiences,” characterized at the emotional level by their intensity and positive valence. These experiences are strong predictors of positive outcomes following psychedelic-assisted therapy, and it is therefore important to better understand their biology. Despite growing evidence that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role in mediating emotional experiences, its involvement in the psychedelic experience is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent changes in the relative influence of the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous systems (PNS) over cardiac activity may reflect the subjective experience induced by the short-acting psychedelic N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).Methods: We derived measures of SNS and PNS activity from the electrocardiograms of 17 participants (11 males, mean age = 33.8 years, SD = 8.3) while they received either DMT or placebo.Results: Results show that the joint influence of SNS and PNS (“sympathovagal coactivation”) over cardiac activity was positively related to participants’ ratings of “Spiritual Experience” and “Insightfulness” during the DMT experience, while also being related to improved well-being scores 2 weeks after the session. In addition, we found that the state of balance between the two ANS branches (“sympathovagal balance”) before DMT injection predicted scores of “Insightfulness” during the DMT experience, as well as subsequent sympathovagal coactivation.Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the involvement of the ANS in psychedelic-induced peak experiences and may pave the way to the development of biofeedback-based tools to enhance psychedelic therapy.