Abstract
Psychopharmacology (2004)
173:79–87
DOI 10.1007/s00213-003-1701-x
O R IGINAL INVES T I GATION
E. Frecska · K.
D. White · L. E. Luna
Effects
of ayahuasca on binocular rivalry
with dichoptic stimulus alternation
Received: 28 May 2003
/ Accepted: 30 October 2003 / Published online: 8 January 2004
Springer-Verlag 2004
Abstract Rationale:
During binocular rivalry, two incompatible
images are presented to each eye and these
monocular stimuli compete for perceptual dominance,
with one pattern temporarily suppressed from awareness.
One variant of stimulus presentation in binocular rivalry
experiments is dichoptic stimulus alternation (DSA),
when stimuli are applied to the eyes in rapid reversals.
There is preliminary report that in contrast with healthy
controls, schizophrenic patients can maintain binocular
rivalry even at very high DSA rates. Objective: The study
was undertaken to investigate whether binocular rivalry
survives high rates of DSA induced by the South
American hallucinogenic beverage ayahuasca. Methods:
Ten individuals who were participating in ayahuasca
ceremonials were requested to volunteer for binocular
rivalry tests (DSA=0, 3.75, 7.5, 15 and 30 Hz) without
and after drinking the brew. Results: Ingestion of
ayahuasca increased mean dominance periods both in
standard binocular rivalry conditions (no DSA) and tests
with DSA. At higher DSA rates (15 and 30 Hz) the total
length of dominance periods was longer on the brew.
Conclusion: It is discussed that ayahuasca-induced survival
of binocular rivalry at high DSA rates may be
related to slow visual processing and increased mean
dominance periods may result from hallucinogen-induced
alteration of gamma oscillations in the visual pathways.
Help the Library!
If you have any document on Ayahuasca / Santo Daime that is not included in the Library, please send it to the Library Administrator.
For any suggestion, correction, information, ecc.., please mail to: library@santodaime.it
