The DOI matches its Crossref record; 40 of the 43 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Seeing with the eyes shut: neural basis of enhanced imagery following ayahuasca ingestion.
Open accessAbstract
The hallucinogenic brew Ayahuasca, a rich source of serotonergic agonists and reuptake inhibitors, has been used for ages by Amazonian populations during religious ceremonies. Among all perceptual changes induced by Ayahuasca, the most remarkable are vivid "seeings." During such seeings, users report potent imagery. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging during a closed-eyes imagery task, we found that Ayahuasca produces a robust increase in the activation of several occipital, temporal, and frontal areas. In the primary visual area, the effect was comparable in magnitude to the activation levels of natural image with the eyes open. Importantly, this effect was specifically correlated with the occurrence of individual perceptual changes measured by psychiatric scales. The activity of cortical areas BA30 and BA37, known to be involved with episodic memory and the processing of contextual associations, was also potentiated by Ayahuasca intake during imagery. Finally, we detected a positive modulation by Ayahuasca of BA 10, a frontal area involved with intentional prospective imagination, working memory and the processing of information from internal sources. Therefore, our results indicate that Ayahuasca seeings stem from the activation of an extensive network generally involved with vision, memory, and intention. By boosting the intensity of recalled images to the same level of natural image, Ayahuasca lends a status of reality to inner experiences. It is therefore understandable why Ayahuasca was culturally selected over many centuries by rain forest shamans to facilitate mystical revelations of visual nature.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“The ayahuasca-produced stimulation of the primary visual cortex was comparable to the effect of natural images with the eyes open.”
From The therapeutic potentials of Ayahuasca: possible effects against various diseases of civilization (2016) · cites this paper as de Araujo et al. (2012)
In the citing paper
“Using functional magnetic resonance imaging technique de Araujo et al. (2012) found that ayahuasca induces a robust activation of occipital, temporal, and frontal areas during a closed-eyes imagery task.”
From The therapeutic potentials of Ayahuasca: possible effects against various diseases of civilization (2016) · cites this paper as de Araujo et al. (2012)
In the citing paper
“The consumption of the brew activated an extended network in the brain (that has previously been correlated to visual perception, memory and intention) in which the Brodmann areas BA10, BA17, BA30, and BA37 play a central role.”
From The therapeutic potentials of Ayahuasca: possible effects against various diseases of civilization (2016) · cites this paper as de Araujo et al. (2012)
In the citing paper
“Moreover, this effect correlated significantly with the occurrence of perceptual changes measured by rating scales.”
From The therapeutic potentials of Ayahuasca: possible effects against various diseases of civilization (2016) · cites this paper as de Araujo et al. (2012)
Citations
Cites
Kosslyn, S. M., Ganis, G., & Thompson, W. L. (2001) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/35090055 · Cited by 1,894
Bar, M. (2004) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn1476 · Cited by 1,613
Brain areas underlying visual mental imagery and visual perception: an fMRI study
Ganis, G., Thompson, W. L., & Kosslyn, S. M. (2004) · Cognitive Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2004.02.012 · Cited by 765
The Role of Area 17 in Visual Imagery: Convergent Evidence from PET and rTMS
Kosslyn, S. M., Pascual‐Leone, Á., Félician, O., Camposano, S. E., Keenan, J. P., L., W., Thompson, Ganis, G., Sukel, K. E., & Alpert, N. M. (1999) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.284.5411.167 · Cited by 756
Kosslyn, S. M. (1990) · Cited by 702
Kalina Christoff, A., & Gabrieli, J. D. E. (2000) · Psychobiology · doi:10.3758/bf03331976 · Cited by 697
When the Brain Loses Its Self: Prefrontal Inactivation during Sensorimotor Processing
Goldberg, I. I., Harel, M., & Malach, R. (2006) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2006.03.015 · Cited by 593
Distributed Neural Systems for the Generation of Visual Images
Ishai, A., Ungerleider, L. G., & Haxby, J. V. (2000) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/s0896-6273(00)00168-9 · Cited by 579
Allen, P., Larøi, F., McGuire, P. K., & Aleman, A. (2008) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.07.012 · Cited by 579 · cited 2×
“The nonprimary visual areas strongly modulated by Ayahuasca (BA7, BA18, and BA19) are known to be activated during psychopathological hallucinations [Allen et al., 2008] as well as during normal dreaming, within rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep [Braun et al., 1998; Wehrle et al., 2007].”
BackgroundBrain regions involved in prospective memory as determined by positron emission tomography
Burgess, P. W., Quayle, A., & Frith, C. D. (2001) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/s0028-3932(00)00149-4 · Cited by 575
Flagged first, then by citations
3 of the 43 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- 10.1126/science.284.5411.167 · DOI
- Shanon B, 2002, Ayahuasca visualizations‐A structural typology, J Conscious Stud, 9, 3
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–239 of 239
Kloft, L. (2021) · Research Publications (Maastricht University) · doi:10.26481/dis.20210623lk
HABILIDADES COGNITIVAS DE ADEPTOS DA DOUTRINA DO SANTO DAIME
FONSECA, A. M., Marteleto, M. R. F., & SCHOEN, T. H. (2022) · Editora Científica Digital eBooks · doi:10.37885/220910296
Processos Neuropsicológicos: uma abordagem do desenvolvimento - Volume 2
Fonseca, A. M., Marteleto, M. R. F., & Schöen, T. H. (2022) · Editora Científica Digital eBooks · doi:10.37885/978-65-5360-206-9
Montgomery, C., Amaya, I. A., & Schmidt, T. T. (2023) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/s6dnr
Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and brain plasticity: A systematic reviewPreprint
da Cruz, R. V. L., Leão, R. N., & Moulin, T. C. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.07.19.549676
On the application of Machine Learning and Complex Networks to Neuroscience
Alves, C. L. (2023) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/t.55.2023.tde-31082023-145944
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0010
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0011
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0008
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0006
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0012
(2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.002.0006
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0007
(2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.002.0003
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0004
What Is Psychedelic Experience?
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0002
(2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.002.0005
Lyon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0003
Tibetan Sky-Gazing Meditation and the Pre-History of Great Perfection Buddhism
Geisshuesler, F. A. (2023) · Bloomsbury Publishing Plc eBooks · doi:10.5040/9781350428843 · Cited by 1
Open MDMA: An Open Source Framework and Practical Guide for the Therapeutic use of MDMAPreprint
Groeneveld, M., & Harper, T. (2024) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/aps5g
Ayahuasca-Tourismus in Südamerika
Wolff, T. J. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-43431-1_47
Mind-body medicine and altered states of consciousness in Homo
Mohammadi, K., & Saniotis, A. (2024) · Anthropological Review · doi:10.18778/1898-6773.87.3.08
Cabral-Carvalho, R. M., Palhano-Fontes, F., de Araújo, D. B., & Sato, J. R. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.04.25.650509
Assessing novel expectancies about ayahuasca : a preliminary report
Altman, B. R. (2019) · Scholars Archive - University at Albany (University at Albany, State University of New York) · doi:10.54014/57py-y18d
Perez-Diaz, O., Barrós‐Loscertales, A., Schjoedt, U., Mora, J. L. G., Rubia, K., Suero, J., & Hernández, S. E. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26639076
Ayahuasca, DMT, and Mental Health: A Current Review of Scientific Studies
Araújo, D. B., Maia, L. O., Sanchez, T. A., Coelho, N. L. G., & Palhano-Fontes, F. (2026) · Current Addiction Reports · doi:10.1007/s40429-026-00721-7
Self-citationEnchanted consciousness revisited – Ayahuasca visualizations and Sartre's ideas on hallucination
Horváth, L. (2026) · Journal of Psychedelic Studies · doi:10.1556/2054.2026.00484
Leptourgos, P. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/dafacdb1z9072z4ec2z8cebz0ca09b93b7ce · Cited by 3
The Neuropharmacology of Psychedelics
Pavăl, D. (2026) · SpringerBriefs in religious studies · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-20214-7_3
dos Santos, T. C., Araújo, D. B., Felippe, H., Miranda, J. G. V., Palhano-Fontes, F., do Rosário, R. S., Onias, H., Viol, A., Viswanathan, G. M., & Santos, F. A. N. (2026) · Chaos Solitons & Fractals · doi:10.1016/j.chaos.2026.118554
Multidimensional characterization of the physiological and behavioral effects of TCB-2 in micePreprint
Yamamoto, M., Inoue, H., Hayashi, K., Aota, I., Matsumoto, J., Yamada, K., & Toda, K. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.08.01.742216
Psychedelic, Entheogenic, and Transpersonal Experiences
Winkelman, M. (2026) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781394215683.ch24
Association Between EEG Activity and Motor Imagery Ability in Single-Joint Movements: A Pilot Study
Inamoto, T., Ueda, M., Ueno, K., Ishii, R., & Naito, Y. (2026) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci16101008
Psychedelics Restructure the Global Workspace of ConsciousnessPreprint
Yousefi, P., Shinozuka, K., Vizeli, P., Holze, F., Becker, A., Müller, F., Liechti, M. E., Hasler, G., Rodríguez, C. I., Luppi, A. I., et al. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.09.28.755172
Castelo-Branco, M. S., Gaidosch, A., Teixeira, M., Lima, G., Soares, C., Pais, M. L., Rijo, P. M., Cabral, C., & Goebel, R. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-11114520/v1
Laborde, S., Falchi-Carvalho, M., Maia, L. O., Tullman, S., Barros, H., Lima-Araujo, G., Bolcont, R., Wießner, I., Galvão-Coelho, N., Palhano-Fontes, F., et al. (2026) · European Journal of Integrative Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2026.102773
Psychedelics and psychosis: A systematic review of recent-era studies (1984–2025)
Reis, J. A. S., Ueta, L. Z., Bouso, J. C., Hallak, J. E. C., & SANTOS, R. G. D. (2026) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/02698811261488575
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- de Araujo, D. B., Ribeiro, S., Cecchi, G. A., Carvalho, F. M., Sanchez, T. A., Pinto, J. P., de Martinis, B. S., Crippa, J. A., Hallak, J. E. C., & Santos, A. C.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (BR)
- IBM Research - Thomas J. Watson Research Center (US)
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Human Brain Mapping
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-09-16
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 2550-2560
- ISSN
- 1065-9471 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0193
- PMC
- PMC6870240
- OpenAlex
- W2035391615
- Cited by
- 239
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 7.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Human Brain Mapping (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Americanae (AECID Library) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Scientific Electronic Library Online (São Paulo Research Foundation, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hallucinations in medical conditions
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
- Keywords
- ayahuasca, hallucinations, visual imagery, serotonergic agonists, primary visual cortex, episodic memory, brain networks, shamanic rituals, mystical experience, hallucinogenic effects
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Hallucinations, Hallucinogens, Humans, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Neural Pathways, Banisteriopsis, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
