Magic Mushrooms Boosted Humanity's Evolutionary Success, New Study Says: Did Psilocybin Make Early Humans Better Hunters?

A growing body of research suggests that psychedelic mushrooms, specifically those containing psilocybin, may have played a crucial role in the evolution of human consciousness. This conclusion aligns with the “Stoned Ape Hypothesis,” originally proposed by ethnobotanist Terence McKenna. In his theory, McKenna posited that early humans' consumption of these mushrooms, such as Psilocybe cubensis and Panaeolus cyanescens, was a catalyst for the rapid cognitive development of our ancestors.

A recent paper, published in Lilloa, a publication focused on botany, mycology and phycology founded in 1937, offers substantial evidence that the neurological effects of psilocybin could have contributed to both mental expansion and survival advantages for early hominids. The researchers behind the study conducted an extensive review of literature from disciplines including biology, neuroscience and ethnobotany, compiling insights from studies involving psilocybin, human consciousness and evolutionary biology.

The Effects Of Psilocybin On The Brain

According to the study, psilocybin triggers a range of neurological responses, particularly in areas like the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus and the anterior cingulate cortex. These brain regions are associated with decision-making, memory and introspection. The authors noted that psilocybin leads to an increase in communication between normally disconnected brain regions, fostering cognitive processes linked to creativity, abstract thinking and problem-solving.

“Psilocybin affects various areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus,” the study stated, adding that these effects may have encouraged early humans to develop enhanced cognitive skills. Notably, the paper emphasized the potential of psilocybin to alter visual perception and fine motor skills, possibly giving early human communities a survival advantage through improved hunting success.

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Psilocybin And Early Human Communities

Researchers speculate that early human ancestors, such as Homo erectus, encountered psilocybin mushrooms while following migratory herds of hooved animals, as the mushrooms often thrive in the dung of these creatures. The ingestion of these psychedelic fungi may have enhanced sensory perception, providing evolutionary benefits such as improved spatial awareness and visual acuity, which would have been advantageous for hunting and gathering.

“From an evolutionary perspective, the ingestion of psilocybin may have contributed to the improvement in visual abilities and reproductive success of communities that made use of these mushrooms,” the authors suggested. This could have created a distinct evolutionary path for groups that regularly consumed the fungi, as their enhanced perception and fine motor skills allowed them to secure more food and resources.

Psilocybin In Ancient Cultures

The paper also highlighted evidence that suggests the long-standing relationship between humans and psychedelic mushrooms, pointing to prehistoric cave drawings in the Tassili caves of the Atlas Mountains. The depiction of shaman-like figures holding mushrooms indicates that psilocybin was revered and likely used in ritualistic contexts for millennia.

These findings reinforce the idea that the interaction between early humans and their natural environment, including the consumption of psychedelic fungi, could have been a critical factor in shaping the evolution of consciousness. “The hypothesis that psilocybin mushrooms may have intervened as a factor in the evolution of human consciousness raises profound reflections on the ancestral interaction between humans and their environment,” the researchers concluded.

Cover image made with Ai