Psychedelics, Sociality, and Human Evolution
Frontiers in Psychology September 29, 2021 José Manuel Rodríguez Arce, Michael James Winkelman 80 citations
Our hominin ancestors likely encountered and ingested psychedelic mushrooms throughout their evolutionary history, supported by evidence from early hominins' paleodiet, primate mycophagy and self-medication, and the biogeography of psilocybin-containing fungi. Psilocybin and similar psychedelics, targeting the serotonin 2A receptor, stimulate flexible cognition, alter emotional processing and social behavior, and may have provided adaptive advantages. Their incidental inclusion in the diet and later integration into rituals could have enhanced sociality, imagination, and suggestibility, aiding adaptation to a socio-cognitive niche. The model proposes four instrumentalization goals: managing distress, enhancing social interaction, facilitating collective rituals, and improving group decision-making, potentially favoring prosociality in human evolution.