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Psychedelics, Sociality, and Human Evolution.

José Manuel Rodríguez Arce1, Michael James Winkelman2

  • 1Evolutionary Anthropologist, Independent Researcher, San José, Costa Rica.

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Summary

Ancient hominins likely consumed psychedelic mushrooms, influencing their evolution. These compounds may have enhanced cognitive flexibility, social bonding, and adaptability to changing environments, aiding in the development of human society.

Keywords:
drug instrumentalizationevolution of religionhominin evolutionniche-construction theorypsilocybinpsychedelicssocialitysocio-cognitive niche

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Anthropology
  • Neuroscience
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Hominin ancestors likely encountered psilocybin-containing mushrooms throughout evolution.
  • Primate behavior and fungal biogeography support the hypothesis of early psychedelic mushroom consumption.
  • Paleodiet and paleoecology suggest mushrooms were a resource for early hominins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present evidence for a model of psychedelic instrumentalization in hominin evolution.
  • To explore how psilocybin may have conferred selective advantages.
  • To examine the role of psychedelics in the development of the human socio-cognitive niche.

Main Methods:

  • Interdisciplinary review of paleodiet, primate behavior, fungal biogeography, and neurobiology.
  • Analysis of the effects of psilocybin on cognition, emotion, and social behavior.
  • Theoretical modeling of psychedelic instrumentalization in evolutionary context.

Main Results:

  • Psilocybin enhances adaptive coping, cognitive flexibility, and sociality.
  • Psychedelics may have aided hominins in managing psychological distress and improving social interactions.
  • Integration of psilocybin into diet and ritual likely influenced social bonding and prosociality.

Conclusions:

  • Psychedelic mushroom consumption may have played a significant role in hominin evolution.
  • Psilocybin instrumentalization could have enhanced adaptability to the socio-cognitive niche.
  • The prosocial effects of psilocybin may have favored the selection for prosociality in the human lineage.