Mushroom that causes 'tiny people' visions traced to one species
A groundbreaking discovery reveals that a unique mushroom species, Lanmaoa asiatica, is linked to vivid hallucinations involving tiny figures experienced by communities far and wide. Despite lacking known psychoactive substances upon chemical examination, researchers suspect an unidentified compound is responsible for these captivating visual effects. Unraveling this mystery could provide…
A mysterious mushroom, Lanmaoa asiatica, has been identified as the cause of "Lilliputian hallucinations" – vivid visions of tiny human-like figures interacting with the physical world. Researchers from the University of Utah discovered the hallucinogenic compound in the mushroom, which differs from known psychoactive compounds.
The study, published in Mycologia, suggests that the phenomenon is not a cultural construct but has a biological basis. Three independent cultures, in Papua New Guinea, Yunnan, China, and the Philippines, have reported the same hallucinations after consuming L. asiatica. The mushroom's hallucinogenic effect could offer insights into neurological diseases and consciousness, as it reliably induces these hallucinations while neurological conditions rarely trigger them. Further research aims to isolate and identify the new psychedelic compound produced by L. asiatica.
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