The mushroom that produces hallucinations unlike any known drug

Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered that a wild mushroom called Lanmaoa asiatica causes unique hallucinations of tiny human figures. The mushroom does not contain any known psychoactive substance, indicating an unknown chemical component that may aid in the study of neurological diseases.

Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered that a mysterious wild mushroom named Lanmaoa asiatica causes unique hallucinations in which people see tiny human figures the size of dolls. These hallucinations, known as 'Lilliputian hallucinations' after the tiny people in 'Gulliver's Travels,' are described as detailed and consistent: the figures walk, fall off tables, and even swim in soup bowls. The study, published in the journal Mycologia, found that the mushroom does not contain any known psychoactive substance like psilocybin, suggesting the existence of an unknown chemical component. The mystery was first documented in Papua New Guinea in 1934, and later in China and the Philippines. DNA tests confirmed it was the same mushroom species in all locations. The researchers hope that future isolation of the substance will aid in the study of neurological diseases such as dementia.