Thirty percent of patients with treatment-resistant depression attempt suicide at least once during their lifetime. Can a psychoactive tea brew from the Amazon help? Dr. Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, a neuroscientist and research engineer in Brazil, reveals the results of a randomized controlled trial examining the impact of Ayahuasca on suicidality. Dr. Fontes and her team have conducted a number of studies testing the effects of this Amazonian brew on humans using FMRI techniques. She explains exactly what is happening to the brain when someone takes Ayahuasca, discussing everything from the default mode network to Shannon entropy to neurotrophic factors. Finally, she shares why this medicine may be a lifesaver for people with treatment-resistant depression.

Dr. Fontes' papers:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WmhroXIAAAAJ&hl=en

Playlists during clinical trials:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5wAyiC2RvBpbZUZeLMERza?si=cH5BAoSlROiTnQZ8TJRzFw https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6sRsIxM4oNEpCPSFDQxAJB?si=eZVAiiMxSNmoOAs8cie9uA