The birth of human consciousness may have really been magic.
Scientists claim that consuming the fungus psilocybin, also known as ‘magic mushrooms’, affected the brains of pre-human hominids six million years ago.
They analyzed dozens of studies on psilocybin and consciousness and found that the fungi increased connectivity between networks in the frontal brain region linked to expressive language, decision-making and memory.
This caused “significant neurological and psychological effects,” and the team said it brought human ancestors into contact with each other and with the environment.
The idea that magic mushrooms were the turning point for humans has been put forward by podcaster Joe Rogan, who has referred to the “Stoned Ape Theory” several times on his show.
Psilocybin – a property found in magic mushrooms – enhanced humans’ visual abilities when hunting and gathering and may have been used to increase their sexual stimulation, leading to a greater chance of mating.
Ancient humans who ate mushrooms six million years ago may have played an important role in the development of modern human consciousness
The theory, proposed in 1992 by ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, suggests that the evolution from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens and the cognitive enhancement associated with this change were caused by eating psilocybin mushrooms.
‘[Learning] “From our ancestors, we can use psilocybin today to get in touch with parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed, to face our fears, and to heal our traumas,” said study co-author and biologist Jehoshua Macedo-Bedoya. Popular mechanics.
Researchers from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru reviewed studies from 1998 and found that psilocybin stimulates the central nervous system, leading to greater awareness.
They also found information suggesting Millions of years ago, psilocybin connected the frontal lobes, prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex of the brain.
These regions are responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.
The fungi were also found to affect the hippocampus, a part of the brain’s limbic system that converts short-term memories into long-term memories and processes emotions such as fear and avoidance behavior.
“From an evolutionary perspective, it is proposed that psilocybin intake could have contributed to the enhancement of visual performance and reproductive success in communities using these mushrooms,” according to a translation of the study in Spanish.
The team’s research found that humans evolved the CYP2D6 gene millions of years ago to synthesize psychoactive substances, including psilocybin.
These findings suggest that humans are feasting on the fungi and that their bodies have evolved to tolerate the chemicals.
Psilocybin could also “catalyze mystical experiences or cognitive processes, and evoke profound reflections on the ancestral interaction between humans and their natural environment,” the study said.
The fungi affect the part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is responsible for reflecting on thoughts and experiences. They also help some people feel connected to the people and world around them.
Podcast host Joe Rogan has discussed the ‘Stoned Ape Theory’ extensively on his podcast, arguing that it should be questioned but that it is a ‘compelling idea’
The new research appears to support the “Stoned Ape Theory” that Rogan discussed extensively in his podcast for 2021.
However, the scientific community has widely criticized this idea, arguing that our distant ancestors showed none of these evolutionary advantages.
While Rogan said in his podcast that McKenna’s credibility should be questioned and he criticized the researcher’s alleged drug use, he acknowledged that it was a compelling theory.
‘[McKenna] “He was a fun guy to listen to, … but the idea that these ancient hominids were experiencing psilocybin, or rather experimenting with it, and that it was developing culture and language, and improving their understanding of each other, that’s a really exciting idea,” Rogan said.