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Reply to “Ayahuasca turned on my mind’s eye”: A case of acquired versus congenital aphantasia, as evidenced with DMT use?

DOI: 10.1556/2054.2018.014
Luke, D. (2018). Reply to “ayahuasca turned on my mind’s eye”: a case of acquired versus congenital aphantasia, as evidenced with dmt use?. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 2(2), 97–98. doi:10.1556/2054.2018.014

Abstract

In a recent article in this journal, Dos Santos et al. (2018) report a case of ayahuasca use by a man with aphantasia. This account is the first such report of the use of a psychedelic agent by someone with aphantasia. Surprisingly, the case, SE, reported an improvement in their visual imagery following one particular instance of ayahuasca use. In support of Dos Santos et al.’s (2018) favored psychological explanation for improvement and their suggestion that SE’s aphantasia was acquired rather than congenital, this letter reports on a case study of an individual with apparent congenital aphantasia who has experienced no visual imagery, despite reported having excessively smoked N,N-dimethyltryptamine. It is proposed that the theoretical distinction between acquired and congenital aphantasia be further explored with regard to the use of psychedelics. In addition, further research with psychedelics should include self-report measures that can index aphantasia, such as the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, as well as behavioral tasks, such as those measuring binocular rivalry.

Authors

  • David Luke1

Exploring Aphantasia and Psychedelics: A New Perspective

Overview/Introduction

A recent study has sparked interest in the intersection of aphantasia and psychedelic use. Aphantasia is a condition where individuals cannot visualize images in their mind's eye. This paper discusses two intriguing cases: one involving a man who experienced improved visual imagery after using ayahuasca, and another involving a man with lifelong aphantasia who did not experience any change despite extensive use of DMT, a potent psychedelic.

Methodology

The study focused on two individuals with aphantasia:
  • SE, who had acquired aphantasia and reported improved visual imagery after using ayahuasca.
  • HE, who had congenital aphantasia and experienced no change despite using DMT over 1,000 times.
The research involved self-reports and comparisons between these two cases to understand the potential effects of psychedelics on aphantasia.

Key Findings

  • SE's Experience: SE's aphantasia appeared to be acquired, possibly linked to childhood trauma. After using ayahuasca, SE reported an improvement in visual imagery, suggesting that psychedelics might help resolve psychological barriers.
  • HE's Experience: HE's aphantasia seemed congenital, with no change in visual imagery despite extensive DMT use. This suggests that congenital aphantasia might have a biological basis that psychedelics cannot alter.

Implications

  • Potential for Treatment: The findings suggest that psychedelics like ayahuasca might help individuals with acquired aphantasia, possibly by addressing underlying psychological issues.
  • Further Research: The study highlights the need for more research into the differences between acquired and congenital aphantasia and how psychedelics might affect each type differently.

Limitations

  • Case Study Nature: The research is based on individual case studies, which limits the generalizability of the findings.
  • Self-Reported Data: The reliance on self-reported experiences may introduce biases or inaccuracies.
In conclusion, this study opens new avenues for understanding aphantasia and the potential role of psychedelics in its treatment. However, more comprehensive research is needed to explore these possibilities further.