Joe Rogan's bold theory may be about to be proven by scientists after 'compelling idea'

Scientists have suggested that the consumption of 'magic mushrooms', or psilocybin, may have influenced the brains of pre-human hominids six million years ago, a concept Joe Rogan has previously described as a "compelling idea".

After examining numerous studies on psilocybin and consciousness, researchers discovered that the fungi boosted connectivity in the frontal brain region, linked with expressive language, decision-making, and memory.

These 'significant neurological and physiological effects' are believed to have improved ancient humans' ability to interact with each other and their surroundings, sparking consciousness among the human species.

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The results echo a theory frequently discussed by Rogan on his podcast. The 'Stoned Ape Theory', put forward in 1992 by ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, posits that the evolution from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens was triggered by the ingestion of psilocybin mushrooms.

"Drawing from our ancestors, we can use psilocybin today to connect with parts of ourselves we didn't know, confront our fears, and heal our traumas," said the study's co-author and biologist Jehoshua Macedo-Bedoya in an interview with Popular Mechanics. In an email to the publication, the author added: "To my knowledge, there is no exact evidence or figure specifying the number of years required for a change in consciousness due to the consumption of mushrooms."

It's believed that the earliest hominids likely began eating psilocybin mushrooms after they descended from trees during the Pleistocene Epoch, roughly five to six million years ago.

Macedo-Bedoya went on to suggest that without the influence of psilocybin, our current culture might look different than what we're used to. He pointed to research indicating that humans developed the CYP2D6 gene millions of years ago, suggesting that humans were consuming these fungi and their bodies evolved to handle the chemicals.

The study suggests that psilocybin could have acted as "catalysts of mystical experiences or as drivers of cognitive processes, raises profound reflections on the ancestral interaction between human beings and their natural environment."

These findings seem to back up the 'Stoned Ape Theory' that Rogan first brought up on his podcast in 2021 - even though Rogan admitted that McKenna's credibility should be scrutinised due to the researcher's alleged drug use.

"[McKenna] was a fun guy to listen to talk, but the idea that these ancient hominids experimented with psilocybin and this is what advanced culture, advanced language, advanced their understanding of each other, it's a very compelling idea," Rogan stated.

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