Seeing With the Eyes Shut: Ayahuasca Visions

The hallucinogenic brew Ayahuasca has been used for centuries by South American rain forest shamans as a religious sacrament. The "spirit vine" facilitates mystical visions and revelations, and is believed to have healing properties. Though there have been very few studies of its effects on brain function, a Brazilian research team reports one of the very first functional neuroimaging studies of the drug's effects. Results indicate that Ayahuasca visions stem from the activation of an extensive network involving vision, memory, and intention. In the primary visual area, the effect is comparable in magnitude to the activation levels of natural images with the eyes open. By boosting the intensity of an inner image to the same level of a natural image, Ayahuasca imparts a valid sense of reality to inner experiences. Read More