This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=40) aims to investigate the potential neurophysiological synergy effects between mindfulness meditation and psychedelics, particularly ayahuasca, on experienced meditators.
Randomized, double-blind, quadruple-masked, parallel-group study in experienced meditators comparing an oral DMT+h arm with an organoleptically matched placebo during a three-day meditation retreat.
Primary measures include pre- and post- retreat functional MRI to assess network activity and connectivity, psychometric assessments, and detailed experiential interviews to probe neurophenomenology and subjective effects.
Participants are healthy adult meditators (≥1000 hours practice), BMI 18.5–35, randomized to receive a single oral administration of purified DMT plus harmine or placebo during the sitting meditation on day two; neither participants nor investigators are aware of assignment.
Mindfulness retreat + oral DMT and harmine administered during a sitting meditation (day 2).
Moderate–high dose of purified DMT + harmine administered during the sitting meditation on day 2 of the retreat. Dose represents total DMT per session. Tablets contained 30 mg DMT and 30 mg harmine per increment; four increments gave 120 mg DMT total and 120 mg harmine total.
Mindfulness retreat + organoleptically matched placebo administered during a sitting meditation (day 2).
Pharmaceutically inactive placebo matched for flavour and appearance.