Scientists Identify Mushroom Species Causing Visual Hallucinations of Small Human Figures

Kathmandu. Scientists have identified a species of mushroom that causes people to see dozens to hundreds of small human figures after eating it. Research shows that the mushroom, named Lanmaoa asiatica, found in southwestern China and the Philippines, has this effect.

Researchers from the University of Utah in the United States identified the mushroom through DNA testing. The research findings have been published in the scientific journal Mycologia. This type of visual hallucination is called 'Lilliputian hallucination'.

In this, people see small figures ranging from three to 30 centimeters tall. Researchers say that these figures appear as clear as real people and one experiences them walking around tables, spoons, and other objects. In 1934, a report was published about people in Papua New Guinea seeing such figures after eating wild mushrooms.

After that, similar experiences were reported in the Yunnan region of China. In 2024, researchers discovered that similar incidents occur among indigenous communities in the Philippines. Local communities know this mushroom by the names 'Jian Shou Qing' in China and 'Seddesdem' in the Philippines.

It is said that this visual hallucination can occur if the mushroom is not cooked sufficiently before eating. The most mysterious aspect of the research is that no commonly identified psychoactive chemicals have been found in the mushroom so far. Even 'psilocybin', found in some other mushrooms, was not detected during testing.

Therefore, scientists have speculated that it may contain a chemical that has not yet been identified. However, that chemical has not yet been isolated or identified. According to researchers, identifying that chemical could provide new information on how the human brain perceives visuals and how visual hallucinations are generated.

Such visual hallucinations may also be related to dementia, vision problems, and some nervous system conditions. During the research, scientists analyzed 53 samples of mushrooms from the 'Lanmaoa' group and identified 17 species. Four of these species were new to science.

Scientists now aim to isolate the potential psychoactive chemical in the mushroom and study its effects. They believe this could contribute not only to research on mushroom biodiversity but also to research on the human brain and visual perception. However, scientists have not yet identified the responsible chemical in the mushroom.

Therefore, further research on its effects is necessary. It can be risky to test or consume mushrooms that cause such visual hallucinations.