Autonomic nervous system activity correlates with peak experiences induced by DMT and predicts increases in well-being
Sympathovagal coactivation (joint sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac influence) during DMT correlated with self‑reported spiritual experience and insightfulness and with improved well‑being two weeks after the session. Pre‑drug sympathovagal balance predicted insightfulness and subsequent coactivation, indicating autonomic nervous system dynamics underlie psychedelic peak experiences and could be harnessed (for example via biofeedback) to enhance psychedelic therapy.
Authors
- Fernando Rosas
- Robin Carhart-Harris
- David Nutt
Published
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.
Research Summary of 'Autonomic nervous system activity correlates with peak experiences induced by DMT and predicts increases in well-being'
Introduction
Psychedelics produce marked alterations in perception, cognition and emotion, and intensely positive self‑transcendent or 'peak' experiences that occur during psychedelic therapy have been shown in earlier research to predict beneficial mental health outcomes such as reductions in depression, anxiety and substance craving. Despite the clinical relevance of these peak states, the biological mechanisms that produce them remain unclear; work to date has concentrated on central nervous system effects while largely overlooking peripheral bodily systems. The autonomic nervous system (ANS), which comprises sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) branches and exerts strong influence over cardiac function, is increasingly recognised as important in emotional processing and may be implicated in the affective qualities of psychedelic experiences. Bonnelle and colleagues set out to test whether cardiac indices of SNS and PNS activity relate to subjective peak experiences evoked by the short‑acting psychedelic N,N‑dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Specifically, they hypothesised that (1) individuals who begin the session from a state of greater sympatho‑vagal balance would be more likely to report peak experiences, and (2) peak experiences during DMT would be associated with concurrent sympatho‑vagal coactivation (joint SNS and PNS influence). The study used the brief timecourse of DMT to link minute‑by‑minute autonomic measures with self‑reported phenomenology and subsequent changes in wellbeing.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compound
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- APA Citation
Bonnelle, V., Feilding, A., Rosas, F. E., Nutt, D. J., Carhart-Harris, R. L., & Timmermann, C. (2024). Autonomic nervous system activity correlates with peak experiences induced by DMT and predicts increases in well-being. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 38(10), 887-896. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241276788
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