https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc en-us 2021-01-18 15:00:12 UTC 2023-08-05 13:04:27 UTC hello@padlet.com haas384 https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098251504 The document below contains the first well written account of psilocybin's effects that occurred in Britain in 1799. A family of six had eaten a breakfast of mushrooms that the father had gathered in Green Park. A short while afterwards, they began to experience symptoms such as vertigo,  delirium, pupil dilation and uncontrolled laughter. (1)

Concerned that his family had just ingested poisonous mushrooms, the father took to the street and encountered Dr. Brande who documented their symptoms, and ordered medicine to make them vomit. After vomiting, the family seemed to return to normal. (2)

This is significant to neuroscience as psilocybin had been used for thousands of years,  to alter perceptions, but this is the first documentation of the symptoms experienced upon ingestion. 

(1)https://mikejay.net/mushrooms-in-wonderland/
(2)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5659401/?page=1]]> 2021-01-18 15:02:25 UTC https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098251504 haas384 https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098479890 Widely debated, there is a theory that the evolution of homo sapiens arose, in part, from the use of psychedelics, specifically psilocybin. (1)

Respected psilocybin mycologist Paul Stamets advocated for the "Stoned Ape Hypothesis" originally proposed in 1992 by Terence McKenna, seen in the image below. (1) This theory states that the mysterious doubling in brain size that occurred between 2 million and 700,000 years ago, can be attributed to ingesting psilocybin. (1)

Researchers, while they may disagree with this theory, acknowledge the benefits of psychedelics to evolution. Sullivan, Hagen and Hammerstein argue that our ancestors benefited from the use of psychoactive ingredients. (2) "Psychedelics enhanced the survival and reproduction of those who could best exploit and benefit from their effects," (2, Winkelman).

(1)https://www.inverse.com/article/34186-stoned-ape-hypothesis
(2)https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/3/2/article-p43.xml]]> 2021-01-18 16:24:37 UTC https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098479890 haas384 https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098546691 The video below is a short description of the intertwining of the shaman and reindeer in Siberia using A. muscaria as a magic mushroom. It is believed to be the origin of the story of Santa Claus beginning in the 19th century. (1)

Santa is known for wearing a red suit, trimmed in white, much like the mushroom that is red with white spots. In Siberia, this mushroom was consumed and made reindeer appear to be flying, much like Santa's reindeer fly in children's stories today. (2)

This story is important to neuroscience, because it demonstrates how psychedelics can alter our perceptions and bolster creativity and imagination. 

(1)https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2p1gv2
(2)https://www.npr.org/2010/12/24/132260025/did-shrooms-send-santa-and-his-reindeer-flying

]]> 2021-01-18 16:50:39 UTC https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098546691 haas384 https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098676395 There is much contention about when psychedelics were first used by shaman people in indigenous culture. Some believe that it was a recent development to aid in tourist attraction, while others believe that it has been around for nearly a million years.

This pouch was found in present day Bolivia. It is dated to between 900-1170 AD and contained psychoactive plants that would be used in the ritual of ayahuasca. This can be considered the world's earliest findings of ayahuasca for ritualistic purposes. These psychoactive ingredients would have been used to alter brain function as well as inducing nausea and vomiting in some cases. (1)

This artifact is important to neuroscience as it is one of the first physical pieces of evidence for the use of psychedelics to alter consciousness.

(1)https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/05/ancient-hallucinogens-oldest-ayahuasca-found-shaman-pouch/#close

]]> 2021-01-18 17:41:25 UTC https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098676395 haas384 https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098680653 Psilocybin has long been known to be a mind-altering mushroom. In 2016, researchers first tested the effects of psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy on depression and anxiety of cancer patients (1).

In one study, at Johns Hopkins University, participants saw an 80% retained decreased depression at a 6-month follow up. The participants of these studies attributed their new outlook on life to the mind-altering affects of the psilocybin (2).

The video below contains interviews with some of the researchers working on this new project involving psilocybin. It also gives a brief overview of the initial results. (3) 

(1)https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/28/health/magic-mushrooms-psilocybin-cancer-patients-study-wellness/index.html
(2)https://maps.org/other-psychedelic-research/211-psilocybin-research/psilocybin-studies-in-progress/1268-johns_hopkins_study_of_psilocybin_in_cancer_patients
(3)https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/single-dose-psychedelic-drug-eased-cancer-patients-anxiety-depression-years-n1123451]]> 2021-01-18 17:43:16 UTC https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1098680653 haas384 https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1114652884 Christianity believes in a higher being, a God. What is interesting is that many of their early paintings included the depiction of psychedelic mushrooms (1).

The image below is of a painting created in the 13th century depicting Adam and Eve. Between them is a tree made of out what many ethnobotanists believe is Aminata muscaria, a psychedelic mushroom. Its large size, while unrealistic in the natural world, is used to signify that the mushroom is of great importance. (1)

There are many other paintings that involve psychedelic mushrooms. Christians realized the mind-altering affects of mushrooms and potentially used them to bring them closer to God. 

(1)https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/3/2/article-p142.xml  ]]> 2021-01-22 16:05:59 UTC https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1114652884 haas384 https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1115578905 A great group to listen to regarding the use of psilocybin would be the research team, led by Roland Griffiths, at Johns Hopkins University. While several institutions are now looking into researching psilocybin and its effects on mental health, Johns Hopkins was arguably the first and is certainly the largest of its kind. Their team is interested in how psychedelics impact the brain of both healthy and mentally ill patients. Their research is centered on how these 'magic mushrooms' can impact brain functions such as learning and memory, behavior, and overall well-being. (1)

Psychedelic mushrooms are still extremely taboo in the United States, which makes this university an incredible source for knowledge as one of the only institutions currently doing research. (2)

(1)https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/first-of-its-kind-psychedelic-research-center-debuts-at-johns-hopkins
(2)https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinseatonjefferson/2019/09/12/magic-mushrooms-as-medicine-johns-hopkins-scientists-launch-center-for-psychedelic-research-say-psychedelics-could-treat-alzheimers-depression-and-addiction/?sh=69e2ca42c171

]]> 2021-01-22 19:24:22 UTC https://padlet.com/haas384/cef43eri70wxmsgc/wish/1115578905