## DMT and the Heart: Study Reveals Link Between Psychedelic Experiences and Autonomic Balance
The world of psychedelics continues to fascinate and intrigue scientists, and a recent study published in the *Journal of Psychopharmacology* sheds new light on the profound effects of DMT, a powerful psychedelic, on both mental and physical well-being.
The study, led by cognitive neuroscience researcher Dr. Valérie Bonnelle, delved into the often-reported mystical experiences associated with DMT, a naturally occurring compound found in plants, animals, and even humans. Known for inducing brief but intense states of altered consciousness, DMT often triggers vivid hallucinations, feelings of unity with the universe, and potential lasting insights that can even improve mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.
Dr. Bonnelle’s interest in the connection between the heart and consciousness stemmed from her own personal experience with psilocybin. “During the experience, it felt as if my awareness was no longer emerging from my brain, but from my heart,” she shared. This led her to explore the role of the body, beyond the brain, in shaping consciousness and the quality of our emotional experiences.
A Unique State of “Sympathovagal Coactivation”
To investigate the relationship between DMT and the body’s response, Dr. Bonnelle’s team conducted a controlled trial with 17 participants, monitoring their cardiac activity during and after DMT administration. Their findings revealed a unique state of “sympathovagal coactivation,” which is the simultaneous activation of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This unusual balance, not typically observed in everyday life, was linked to the participants’ reports of mystical experiences.
Remarkably, participants who experienced this state of “sympathovagal coactivation” showed improvements in their overall well-being in follow-ups two weeks later. “DMT-induced ‘mystical’ experiences appear to manifest in the body as an unusual state of coactivation of cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activity,” explained Dr. Bonnelle. “This paradoxical physiological state of peaceful activation was not only linked to spiritual and insightful experiences but also predictive of well-being improvement after the experience.”
Autonomic State Predicts Trip Quality
The study also discovered a fascinating connection between an individual’s pre-existing autonomic state and the quality of their DMT experience. Participants with a balanced autonomic state before receiving DMT were more likely to report insightful and spiritual experiences, suggesting that the body’s physiological baseline can influence the depth of the psychedelic journey.
Conversely, participants who experienced higher levels of sympathetic activation, associated with stress, during their DMT experiences reported more challenging outcomes. This suggests that individuals who enter the psychedelic journey with a heightened state of anxiety or fear might struggle to fully immerse themselves in the experience, potentially leading to less positive outcomes.
Dr. Bonnelle notes that these findings raise important questions for the field of psychedelic therapy, particularly regarding patient preparation. “It’s possible that for some individuals, much more preparatory work might be needed to overcome this mental and physiological brake that typically results in unpleasant experiences,” she suggested, emphasizing the importance of gentle preparation, especially for individuals with trauma, before using potent psychedelics.
Implications and Future Directions
While this study provides compelling insights, Dr. Bonnelle emphasizes that broader research is necessary to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between DMT, the autonomic nervous system, and the human experience. Future research could incorporate additional physiological measures, like skin conductance and brain activity, to further unravel the mechanisms at play.
Dr. Bonnelle also envisions exploring techniques like meditation and breathwork as potential tools to prepare individuals for psychedelic experiences. She believes biofeedback, which allows individuals to monitor and control their physiological responses, could play a significant role in optimizing their autonomic states, ultimately improving the safety and effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
This research suggests that the body, particularly the heart, plays a more active role in shaping psychedelic experiences than previously thought. By understanding the link between autonomic balance and the quality of DMT experiences, researchers and therapists can potentially unlock a new era of personalized, body-centered approaches to psychedelic-assisted therapy.