What happens to the brain during an Ayahuasca Ceremony: The neuroscience of transformation

For centuries, the experience provided by Ayahuasca was described exclusively through the metaphorical language of mysticism and spirituality. However, recent decades have marked a breakthrough in neurobiology and cognitive psychology, allowing scientists to look inside a process that was previously considered inexplicable. For the modern rational individual—especially a leader or entrepreneur—understanding the physiological mechanisms of transformation is a necessary condition for trusting the process. At SACRUNA, we regard Ayahuasca not as an esoteric ritual, but as an exceptionally sophisticated instrument of neurochemical optimization capable of radically renewing brain function.

In this article, we will examine in detail the specific changes that occur in the architecture of neural connections directly during the ceremony—from the first minutes of Ayahuasca’s action to the moment of returning to an ordinary state of consciousness.

Chemical Synergy: How the Mechanism of Immersion Works

Understanding the neuroscience of Ayahuasca begins with its unique composition. It is not a single plant, but a synergistic union of two components, each performing a critical function. The leaves of the shrub Psychotria viridis contain dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychoactive compound structurally similar to serotonin. However, when taken orally, DMT is typically ineffective because the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the human digestive system rapidly breaks it down before it can enter the bloodstream.

At this point, the second component—the Banisteriopsis caapi vine—enters the process. It contains the alkaloids harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine, which act as MAO inhibitors. By blocking this enzyme, the vine allows DMT to pass into the bloodstream, cross the blood-brain barrier, and reach the brain. The primary targets of DMT are the 5-HT2A serotonin receptors, which are densely concentrated in the prefrontal cortex—the region responsible for higher cognitive functions, self-awareness, and perception of reality. Activation of these receptors initiates a cascade of neurological changes that form the foundation of the transformative experience.

Phase One: Dissolution of Ego Boundaries

When DMT reaches the 5-HT2A receptors, one of the first effects is the suppression of the Default Mode Network (DMN). This network of brain regions is active when we are not engaged in a specific task but are immersed in thoughts about ourselves, memories of the past, or planning for the future. The DMN is the biological substrate of the ego—the repository of our habitual narratives about who we are.

In individuals experiencing chronic stress, depression, or burnout, the Default Mode Network becomes excessively active and rigid. Thoughts circulate within repetitive loops of self-criticism and anxiety. Ayahuasca temporarily, yet profoundly, reduces the activity of this network. When the DMN is suppressed, the boundaries of the familiar “self” begin to dissolve. Scientists refer to this state as ego dissolution.

For the participant, this is experienced as the disappearance of the usual sense of identity. Social roles, titles, fears, and defense mechanisms temporarily lose their dominance. For an entrepreneur, this represents a unique opportunity—to conduct an honest audit of strategies and beliefs from a position beyond the limits of the ordinary personality.

Phase Two: Hyperconnectivity and Nonlinear Insights

As the experience deepens, the habitual hierarchy of neural connections temporarily disintegrates. Functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals a state of hyperconnectivity: brain regions that rarely interact in everyday life begin exchanging information directly. The visual cortex closely cooperates with centers responsible for memory and emotion, leading to the visualization of internal states in the form of complex imagery.

This phenomenon explains the emergence of profound visions and synesthesia—you may feel sound or perceive the color of an emotion. From a business perspective, this state is valuable because it generates nonlinear insights. The brain gains access to unconventional solutions by integrating previously disconnected data into a coherent whole. What once appeared to be an unsolvable problem may find resolution through new associative pathways that were inaccessible under the dominance of linear logical control.

Simultaneously, electroencephalography (EEG) records a significant increase in theta-wave activity. This state is typically associated with deep dream sleep or with advanced meditation practitioners after years of training. The uniqueness of the Ayahuasca experience lies in the fact that one remains fully conscious while in this mode. The theta state enables direct communication with the subconscious, bypassing the critical filters of the rational mind.

Phase Three: Rewriting Emotional Memory

In the deeper layers of the experience, Ayahuasca provides access to the limbic system, particularly the amygdala, which serves as a center for processing fear and emotional memory. Many of our blocks and automatic reactions in business and life are driven by past negative experiences that the amygdala stores as signals of threat.

During the ceremony, Ayahuasca allows a person to revisit these painful memories while in a state of deep biological calm and expanded awareness. A process known in neuroscience as memory reconsolidation occurs. The emotional charge associated with trauma is neutralized. The brain effectively rewrites the memory file, preserving its informational content while removing the destructive emotional response. This enables a leader to release subconscious fears that previously obstructed large-scale decision-making and authentic self-expression.

Phase Four: Biological Renewal at the Cellular Level

Parallel to psychological processes, Ayahuasca initiates profound biological changes. DMT interacts with Sigma-1 receptors located within cells, which play a crucial role in regulating cellular stress and immune responses. Activation of these receptors contributes to the reduction of inflammatory processes in neural tissue and protects neurons from oxidative stress.

At the same time, Ayahuasca’s components stimulate the production of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein responsible for the growth of new neurons and the strengthening of existing synaptic connections. Thus, the ceremony functions as a powerful neuroprotective intervention. In a world characterized by high workloads and constant cognitive strain, such biological protection is critically important.

Return: What You Take With You

As the effects of Ayahuasca gradually subside, activity within the Default Mode Network is restored—yet often in a renewed configuration. The network frequently becomes less dominant, allowing a person to perceive their life without habitual filters of self-criticism and fear. Hyperconnectivity decreases, but traces of newly formed neural pathways remain.

The stimulation of neurogenesis means that after the ceremony, you return to the world with a physically renewed brain. Your capacity for learning, cognitive flexibility, and stress resilience increases at a biological level. This opens a window of heightened neuroplasticity that persists for several weeks. How to utilize this window to consolidate changes is discussed in detail in the article “Life After: The Importance of Integrating the Experience into Everyday Reality.”

Conclusion: A Map of the Process

You now understand what stands behind each stage of the ceremony:

Ego dissolution — suppression of the Default Mode Network, liberation from habitual cognitive filters.
Hyperconnectivity and the theta state — nonlinear insights and direct access to the subconscious.
Memory reconsolidation — neutralization of emotional trauma.
Biological renewal — neurogenesis, BDNF activation, and cellular protection through Sigma-1 receptors.

The SACRUNA project in Spain provides conditions in which these biological processes can unfold with maximum effectiveness. When you understand the mechanics of the process, you can consciously direct the resource of your renewed brain toward creation and development. Your transformation is not an accident, but the result of deliberate work with the biology of your consciousness.