Dráulio Barros de Araújo
Dráulio Barros de Araújo is a full professor at the Brain Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). He holds bachelor's and master’s degrees in physics and a PhD in Physics Applied to Medicine and Biology from the University of São Paulo, where he also earned his “livre-docência”3. (habilitation). He was a Fulbright visiting scholar at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). His research integrates neuroscience techniques and clinical trials to investigate the neural bases of altered states of consciousness and the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances— particularly ayahuasca and DMT—in treating depression. He coordinates clinical and...
From Physics to Psychedelics: Brain, Culture, and Mental Health
In this lecture, I aim to present a personal and scientific journey marked by the convergence of different fields of knowledge: from physics applied to medicine and neuroscience, from functional neuroimaging to clinical mental health research, to studies involving ayahuasca and DMT, and to dialogue with traditional knowledge. Drawing on this trajectory, I will discuss how complex issues— such as consciousness, depression, and altered states of consciousness—demand approaches that transcend rigid disciplinary boundaries. The talk will address neurobiological and clinical evidence from our studies on psychedelic substances, as well as their historical, cultural, ethical, and social contexts. The central idea is to demonstrate how integrating natural sciences, the humanities, clinical practice, therapeutic innovation, and traditional knowledge can spark new questions and open new pathways.