Scientists say they may have discovered origin of consciousness - and it's a theory popularized by Joe Rogan

The commencement of quality consciousness whitethorn person genuinely been magic.

Scientists person claimed that nan depletion of nan fungi psilocybin, besides known arsenic 'magic mushrooms,' influenced pre-human hominids' brains six cardinal years ago.

They analyzed dozens of studies involving psilocybin and consciousness, uncovering nan fungi accrued connectivity betwixt networks successful nan frontal encephalon region associated with expressive language, decision-making and memory.

That triggered 'significant neurological and psychological effects,' which nan squad suggested led quality ancestors to interact pinch each different and nan environment.

The thought that magic mushrooms sparked nan pivotal constituent successful humans has been touted by podcaster Joe Rogan, who has referenced nan 'Stoned Ape Theory' connected his show aggregate times. 

The theory, projected successful 1992 by ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, suggested that nan improvement from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens and nan cognitive enhancement associated pinch this alteration caused by eating psilocybin mushrooms. 

'[Learning] from our ancestors, we tin usage psilocybin coming to link pinch parts of ourselves we didn't know, to look our fears, and to heal our traumas,' nan study's co-author and biologist Jehoshua Macedo-Bedoya told Popular Mechanics. 

Researchers astatine nan Pontifical Catholic University of Peru sifted done studies making love backmost to 1998, finding psilocybin stimulated nan cardinal tense system, starring to an accrued consciousness of consciousness.

They besides recovered accusation that suggested psilocybin connected nan brain's frontal lobes, prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex millions of years ago.

These regions are responsible for decision-making, problem-solving and reasoning skills.

The fungi was besides recovered to impact nan hippocampus, portion of nan brain's limbic strategy that converts short-term memories to semipermanent ones and processes emotions including worry and avoidance behaviors. 

'From an evolutionary perspective, it is projected that nan ingestion of psilocybin could person contributed to nan betterment successful ocular abilities and nan reproductive occurrence of communities that made usage of these mushrooms,' according to a translator of nan study in Spanish.

Research reviewed by nan squad found that humans developed nan CYP2D6 cistron millions of years agone to synthesize psychoactive substances, including psilocybin.

Those findings suggested that humans were feasting connected nan fungi and their bodies evolved to tolerate nan chemicals. 

Psilocybin could person besides been 'catalysts of mysterious experiences aliases arsenic drivers of cognitive processes, raises profound reflections connected nan ancestral relationship betwixt quality beings and their earthy environment,' nan study said.

The fungi impacts nan portion of nan encephalon called nan hippocampus, responsible for reflecting connected thoughts and experiences, and causes immoderate group to consciousness connected to nan group and world astir them.

The caller study appears to support nan 'Stoned Ape Theory' that Rogan discussed astatine magnitude connected his podcast in 2021.

But nan technological organization has wide criticized nan idea, arguing that our ancient ancestors didn't grounds immoderate of these evolutionary advantages. 

Although Rogan did opportunity successful his podcast that McKenna's credibility should beryllium questioned and criticized nan researcher's alleged supplier use, he acknowledged that it was a captivating theory.

'[McKenna] was a nosy feline to perceive to talk, ... but nan thought that these ancient hominids experienced, experimented rather, pinch psilocybin and this was what precocious culture, precocious language, precocious their knowing of each other, it's a very compelling idea,' Rogan said.