The stoned ape theory is a controversial theory first proposed by American ethnobotanist and mysticTerence McKenna in his 1992 book Food of the Gods.[1][2] The theory claims that the transition from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens and the cognitive revolution was caused by the addition of psilocybin mushrooms, specifically the mushroom Psilocybe cubensis, into the human diet[3] around 100,000 years ago. Using evidence largely based on studies from Roland L. Fischer et. al from the 1960s and 1970s, he attributed much of the mental strides made by humans during the cognitive revolution to the effects of psilocybin intake found by Fischer.
Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms in Coyopolan, Veracruz, Mexico. McKenna and his proponents place these psilocybin mushrooms as the central force in the theory.
McKenna's argument has largely been rejected by the scientific community, who cite numerous alleged discrepancies within his theory and claim that his conclusions were arrived at via a fundamental misunderstanding of Fischer's studies.
In his book, McKenna argued that due to desertification in Africa, humans retreated to the shrinking tropical forests, following cattle herds whose dung attracted the insects that he states were certainly a part of the human diet at the time. According to his hypothesis, humans would have detected Psilocybe cubensis from this due to it often growing in cowpats.[1]
According to McKenna, access to and ingestion of mushrooms was an evolutionary advantage to humans' omnivoroushunter-gathererancestors,[4][1] also providing humanity's first religious impulse. He believed that psilocybin mushrooms were the "evolutionary catalyst" from which language, projective imagination, the arts, religion, philosophy, science, and all of human culture sprang.
McKenna claimed that minor doses of psilocybin improve visual acuity, including edge detection, which bettered the hunting skills of early primates and thus resulted in greater food supply and reproduction. At higher doses, McKenna contended that the mushrooms would increase libido, attention, and energy, resulting in greater reproductive success. At even higher doses, the psilocybin would promote greater social bonding within early human communities as well as group sex activities, resulting in greater genetic diversity from the mixing of genes. McKenna also theorized that at this level of psilocybin intake, it would trigger activity in "language-forming region of the brain," resulting in the mental development of visions and music and kickstarting the development of language by enriching their troop signals. According to McKenna, psilocybin would also chip away at internal ego and make religious matters the forefront of the mind.
Variations
Ayahuasca topped with chacruna. Some proponents believe that instead of psilocybin mushrooms being behind the cognitive revolution that DMT-containing psychedelics such as Ayahuasca were.
Some who hold that the use of drugs played a pivotal role in human development argue that it was not psilocybin that initiated greater cognitive development amongst humans, but was instead spurred by other psychedelics such as DMT-containing substances, in particular, Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca has been shown to increase trait openness significantly by one standard deviation.[5][6] Additionally, it has shown to increase interest in abstract ideas and visual acuity when consumed.[7] This has led to it being hypothesized that some sort of DMT-containing substance was the culprit behind the cognitive revolution.[5]
Reception
The stoned ape theory had been widely criticized by the greater scientific community. McKenna's theory was labeled as overly speculative by much of the academic community[8] and misrepresenting the studies of psychopharmacologistRoland L. Fischer, whose research was frequently cited by McKenna as evidence for the purported effects of the mushrooms on early humans. Additionally, many pointed to groups such as the Aztecs or various Amazonian tribes whose usage of psychedelic substances does not reflect any of the evolutionary advantages that McKenna argued would emerge from using psilocybin-containing substances.[9][10] To add on to prior criticisms, McKenna's claim that psilocybin intake would increase libido has been questioned as well as the belief that an increased libido will entail an evolutionary advantage.[11]
^ abcMcKenna, Terence (1999). Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge : a Radical History of Plants, Drugs and Human Evolution. Rider. ISBN978-0-7126-7038-8.
^"Psilocybin, the Mushroom, and Terence McKenna". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
^Letcher, Andy (2008-02-19). Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom. Harper Collins. ISBN978-0-06-082829-5.
^Letcher, Andy (2008-02-19). Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom. Harper Collins. ISBN978-0-06-082829-5.
^ abNetzband, Nige; Ruffell, Simon; Linton, S.; Tsang, W. F.; Wolff, T. (2020-10-01). "Modulatory effects of ayahuasca on personality structure in a traditional framework". Psychopharmacology. 237 (10): 3161–3171. doi:10.1007/s00213-020-05601-0. ISSN 1432-2072. PMC7524857. PMID 32700023.
^Mendes Rocha, Juliana; Rossi, Giordano Novak; Osório, Flávia L.; Bouso Saiz, José Carlos; Silveira, Gabriela De Oliveira; Yonamine, Mauricio; Crevelin, Eduardo José; Queiroz, Maria Eugênia; Cecílio Hallak, Jaime E.; Dos Santos, Rafael Guimarães (2021). "Effects of Ayahuasca on Personality: Results of Two Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials in Healthy Volunteers". Frontiers in Psychiatry. 12: 688439. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.688439. ISSN 1664-0640. PMC8377499. PMID 34421675.
^Hamill, Jonathan; Hallak, Jaime; Dursun, Serdar M.; Baker, Glen (August 6, 2021). "Ayahuasca: Psychological and Physiologic Effects, Pharmacology and Potential Uses in Addiction and Mental Illness". Current Neuropharmacology. 17 (2): 108–128. doi:10.2174/1570159X16666180125095902. ISSN 1570-159X. PMC6343205. PMID 29366418.
^Olsen, Oscar. "The Stoned Ape Hypothesis, A Contemporary Reappraisal". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Pinchbeck, Daniel (2003-08-12). Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism. Crown. ISBN978-0-7679-0743-9.
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Not to be confused with Stone Tape Theory The stoned ape theory is a controversial theory first proposed by American ethnobotanist and mystic Terence McKenna in his 1992 book Food of the Gods 1 2 The theory claims that the transition from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens and the cognitive revolution was caused by the addition of psilocybin mushrooms specifically the mushroom Psilocybe cubensis into the human diet 3 around 100 000 years ago Using evidence largely based on studies from Roland L Fischer et al from the 1960s and 1970s he attributed much of the mental strides made by humans during the cognitive revolution to the effects of psilocybin intake found by Fischer Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms in Coyopolan Veracruz Mexico McKenna and his proponents place these psilocybin mushrooms as the central force in the theory McKenna s argument has largely been rejected by the scientific community who cite numerous alleged discrepancies within his theory and claim that his conclusions were arrived at via a fundamental misunderstanding of Fischer s studies Contents 1 Overview 2 Evidence 3 Variations 4 Reception 5 See also 6 ReferencesOverview EditIn his book McKenna argued that due to desertification in Africa humans retreated to the shrinking tropical forests following cattle herds whose dung attracted the insects that he states were certainly a part of the human diet at the time According to his hypothesis humans would have detected Psilocybe cubensis from this due to it often growing in cowpats 1 According to McKenna access to and ingestion of mushrooms was an evolutionary advantage to humans omnivorous hunter gatherer ancestors 4 1 also providing humanity s first religious impulse He believed that psilocybin mushrooms were the evolutionary catalyst from which language projective imagination the arts religion philosophy science and all of human culture sprang Evidence EditTo support his claim McKenna used studies from the Hungarian American psychopharmacologist Roland L Fischer dating back to the 1960s and 1970s to underline the purported effects psychedelics would have had on mankind McKenna claimed that minor doses of psilocybin improve visual acuity including edge detection which bettered the hunting skills of early primates and thus resulted in greater food supply and reproduction At higher doses McKenna contended that the mushrooms would increase libido attention and energy resulting in greater reproductive success At even higher doses the psilocybin would promote greater social bonding within early human communities as well as group sex activities resulting in greater genetic diversity from the mixing of genes McKenna also theorized that at this level of psilocybin intake it would trigger activity in language forming region of the brain resulting in the mental development of visions and music and kickstarting the development of language by enriching their troop signals According to McKenna psilocybin would also chip away at internal ego and make religious matters the forefront of the mind Variations Edit Ayahuasca topped with chacruna Some proponents believe that instead of psilocybin mushrooms being behind the cognitive revolution that DMT containing psychedelics such as Ayahuasca were Some who hold that the use of drugs played a pivotal role in human development argue that it was not psilocybin that initiated greater cognitive development amongst humans but was instead spurred by other psychedelics such as DMT containing substances in particular Ayahuasca Ayahuasca has been shown to increase trait openness significantly by one standard deviation 5 6 Additionally it has shown to increase interest in abstract ideas and visual acuity when consumed 7 This has led to it being hypothesized that some sort of DMT containing substance was the culprit behind the cognitive revolution 5 Reception EditThe stoned ape theory had been widely criticized by the greater scientific community McKenna s theory was labeled as overly speculative by much of the academic community 8 and misrepresenting the studies of psychopharmacologist Roland L Fischer whose research was frequently cited by McKenna as evidence for the purported effects of the mushrooms on early humans Additionally many pointed to groups such as the Aztecs or various Amazonian tribes whose usage of psychedelic substances does not reflect any of the evolutionary advantages that McKenna argued would emerge from using psilocybin containing substances 9 10 To add on to prior criticisms McKenna s claim that psilocybin intake would increase libido has been questioned as well as the belief that an increased libido will entail an evolutionary advantage 11 See also EditAquatic ape theoryReferences Edit a b c McKenna Terence 1999 Food of the Gods The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge a Radical History of Plants Drugs and Human Evolution Rider ISBN 978 0 7126 7038 8 Psilocybin the Mushroom and Terence McKenna www vice com Retrieved 2022 12 10 Letcher Andy 2008 02 19 Shroom A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom Harper Collins ISBN 978 0 06 082829 5 Letcher Andy 2008 02 19 Shroom A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom Harper Collins ISBN 978 0 06 082829 5 a b Netzband Nige Ruffell Simon Linton S Tsang W F Wolff T 2020 10 01 Modulatory effects of ayahuasca on personality structure in a traditional framework Psychopharmacology 237 10 3161 3171 doi 10 1007 s00213 020 05601 0 ISSN 1432 2072 PMC 7524857 PMID 32700023 Mendes Rocha Juliana Rossi Giordano Novak Osorio Flavia L Bouso Saiz Jose Carlos Silveira Gabriela De Oliveira Yonamine Mauricio Crevelin Eduardo Jose Queiroz Maria Eugenia Cecilio Hallak Jaime E Dos Santos Rafael Guimaraes 2021 Effects of Ayahuasca on Personality Results of Two Randomized Placebo Controlled Trials in Healthy Volunteers Frontiers in Psychiatry 12 688439 doi 10 3389 fpsyt 2021 688439 ISSN 1664 0640 PMC 8377499 PMID 34421675 Hamill Jonathan Hallak Jaime Dursun Serdar M Baker Glen August 6 2021 Ayahuasca Psychological and Physiologic Effects Pharmacology and Potential Uses in Addiction and Mental Illness Current Neuropharmacology 17 2 108 128 doi 10 2174 1570159X16666180125095902 ISSN 1570 159X PMC 6343205 PMID 29366418 Olsen Oscar The Stoned Ape Hypothesis A Contemporary Reappraisal a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Pinchbeck Daniel 2003 08 12 Breaking Open the Head A Psychedelic Journey into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism Crown ISBN 978 0 7679 0743 9 War amp the Noble Savage Dreamflesh ISBN 978 0 9554196 2 1 Concerning Terence McKenna s Stoned Apes Reality Sandwich realitysandwich com 2011 03 28 Retrieved 2022 12 14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stoned ape theory amp oldid 1152471025, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
