Shared functional connectome fingerprints following ritualistic ayahuasca intake
This fMRI study (n=21) of people who regularly use ayahuasca within the Santo Daime church finds that during the experience, changes in functional connectivity (FC, how brain areas communicate) indicate on the scans more similarity between them (so less 'unique' FC). The authors use an analogy that each person still has their own hairstyle, but instead of wearing different coloured t-shirts, all are now wearing the same shirt.
Authors
- Johannes Ramaekers
- Nathalie Mason
- Jan Reckweg
Published
Abstract
The knowledge that brain functional connectomes are both unique and reliable has enabled behaviourally relevant inferences at a subject level. However, it is unknown whether such fingerprints persist under altered states of consciousness. Ayahuasca is a potent serotonergic psychedelic which elicits a widespread dysregulation of functional connectivity. Used communally in religious ceremonies, its shared use may highlight relevant novel interactions between mental state and FC inherency. Using 7T fMRI, we assessed resting-state static and dynamic FCs for 21 Santo Daime members after collective ayahuasca intake in an acute, within-subject study. Here, connectome fingerprinting revealed a shared functional space, accompanied by a spatiotemporal reallocation of keypoint edges. Importantly, we show that interindividual differences in higher-order FCs motifs are relevant to experiential phenotypes, given that they can predict perceptual drug effects. Collectively, our findings offer an example as to how individualised connectivity markers can be used to trace a subjects functional connectome across altered states of consciousness.
Research Summary of 'Shared functional connectome fingerprints following ritualistic ayahuasca intake'
Introduction
The uniqueness of individual brain functional connectivity profiles — so-called connectome fingerprints — is a well-established property of neuroimaging data, with evidence that these profiles remain stable across time and hold explanatory power for individual differences in behaviour. Whether such fingerprints persist under pharmacologically induced altered states of consciousness, or are dissolved or shared through the collective dynamics of ritual psychedelic use, had not previously been investigated. Ayahuasca — a potent serotonergic psychedelic used communally in religious ceremonies — elicits widespread dysregulation of functional connectivity and produces altered states in which the boundaries of personal identity are characteristically attenuated. This study aimed to characterise whether brain connectome fingerprints are preserved or reconfigured following ritual ayahuasca intake, to determine the static and dynamic connectivity properties driving any changes in identifiability, and to examine whether individual variation in connectivity fingerprints under ayahuasca is related to the subjective dimensions of the drug experience.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compound
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- APA Citation
Mallaroni, P., Mason, N. L., Kloft, L., Reckweg, J. T., van Oorsouw, K., Toennes, S. W., Tolle, H. M., Amico, E., & Ramaekers, J. G. (2024). Shared functional connectome fingerprints following ritualistic ayahuasca intake. NeuroImage, 285, 120480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120480
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Cited By (3)
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
Mallaroni, P., Singleton, P., Mason, N. L. et al. · Molecular Psychiatry (2026)
Egger, K., Meling, D., Polat, F. et al. · Imaging Neuroscience (2025)
Doss, M. K., Kloft, L., Mason, N. L. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2024)
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