Scientists Identify Mushroom Species Causing Visual Hallucinations of Small Human Figures

Scientists have identified a species of mushroom that causes the unusual visual hallucination of seeing dozens to hundreds of small human figures after consumption. Research shows that the mushroom, named Lanmaoa asiatica, found in the southwestern region of China and the Philippines, has such an 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 have stated that these figures appear as clear as real humans and are experienced as 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 such visual hallucinations can occur if the mushroom is not cooked sufficiently before eating.The most mysterious aspect of the research is that no common psychoactive chemicals, identified so far, have been found in the mushroom. 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 been identified yet. However, that chemical has not yet been isolated or identified. According to the researchers, identifying that chemical could provide new information on how the human brain perceives visuals and how hallucinations are generated. Such visual hallucinations can also be related to dementia, eye vision problems, and some nervous system conditions.