Anthropologist David Dupuis suggests that the hallucinogenic visions produced by ayahuasca are learned behaviors rather than purely chemical reactions [1].
This hypothesis challenges the traditional understanding of psychedelic experiences by suggesting that cultural context and training shape the biological effects of the drug. If visions are learned, the experience of the brew may be more dependent on the environment and tradition than the substance itself.
Ayahuasca is a bitter, purgative brew prepared from an Amazonian vine [1]. It is used during shamanic ceremonies in the Peruvian Amazon that last several hours and take place at night [1]. While the brew induces hallucinogenic effects, it is non-addictive, though it remains prohibited in many countries [1].
Dupuis discussed these findings during a podcast broadcast on May 27, 2026 [1]. He said that participants do not simply react to the chemical compounds in the vine but instead develop a capacity to interpret the experience through a specific cultural lens.
"On apprend à voir l’ayahuasca," Dupuis said, stating that people learn how to see the ayahuasca [1].
These ceremonies often attract tourists to the Peruvian Amazon, where the brew is used in a traditional setting to induce spiritual or psychological shifts [1]. The process involves a combination of the plant's pharmacological properties, and the ritualistic guidance of the shaman.
“"On apprend à voir l’ayahuasca."”
This research shifts the focus of psychedelic study from pharmacology to anthropology. By suggesting that the 'visions' are a learned skill, Dupuis implies that the efficacy and nature of ayahuasca are inextricably linked to the indigenous knowledge and ritual structures of the Peruvian Amazon, potentially complicating the efforts of Western medicine to standardize the substance's use in clinical settings.
