From Newsgroup: sci.misc

'They saw them on their dishes when eating': The mushroom making
people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans

Only recently described by science, the mysterious mushrooms are found
in different parts of the world, but they give people the same exact
visions.

Every year, doctors at a hospital in the Yunnan Province of China
brace themselves for an influx of people with an unusual complaint.
The patients come with a strikingly odd symptom: visions of
pint-sized, elf-like figures - marching under doors, crawling up walls
and clinging to furniture.
...
...
But it's not psilocybin that's giving the L. asiatica mushrooms their lilliputian effect, says Domnauer.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260121-the-mysterious-mushroom-that-makes-you-see-tiny-people

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From Newsgroup: sci.misc

On Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:49:28 -0600
JAB <here@is.invalid> wrote:

'They saw them on their dishes when eating': The mushroom making
people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans

Interesting. I know an older person with dementia who frequently sees
little elves/dwarves running around. It's apparently a not-uncommon consequence of dementia. Wonder if this is related in brain chemistry
somehow. Then, I wonder what evolutionary process led to something
like this existing.
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From Newsgroup: sci.misc

On Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:47:14 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

older person with dementia who frequently sees
little elves/dwarves running around

Lewy body dementia - is a progressive, incurable neurodegenerative
disease caused by abnormal protein deposits (alpha-synuclein) that
disrupt brain function. It is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia, characterized by fluctuating cognitive impairment, visual hallucinations, Parkinson's-like movement issues, and severe sleep
disorders. Symptoms often start after age 50 and worsen over time. =======================

Off hand, I would say L. asiatica mushrooms act in a similar manner by disrupting the brain's function(s).

I'm not aware of psilocybin disrupting the brain's function(s), but I
have not researched this topic.

For years, US law has restricted medical research on mind alterning
chemicals.

In any event, medical research could evaluate what L. asiatica
mushrooms do, and maybe find a relationship to Lewy body dementia
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From Newsgroup: sci.misc

In misc.news.internet.discuss, Retrograde <fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

On Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:49:28 -0600 JAB <here@is.invalid> wrote:

'They saw them on their dishes when eating': The mushroom making
people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans

Interesting. I know an older person with dementia who frequently sees
little elves/dwarves running around. It's apparently a not-uncommon consequence of dementia. Wonder if this is related in brain chemistry somehow. Then, I wonder what evolutionary process led to something
like this existing.

It happens in people who have gone blind or nearly blind, too. Oliver
Sacks covered it in detail in his book "Hallucinations":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinations_(book)

I wonder what's going on with the mushrooms.

Elijah
------
the brain is a mysterious thing
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From Newsgroup: sci.misc

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:54:10 -0000 (UTC), Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:

It happens in people who have gone blind or nearly blind, too.

Seeing people would have sight memories....even with dreams we can/may
see human forms.

I wonder what's going on with the mushrooms.

I'm not familiar with brain cells, but logic might suggest
increased/decreased cellular activities in different locations,
and/or, various "transmission" pathways affected with L. asiatica
mushrooms. Something to do with visual brain areas, I would suspect

Experiences with THC/LSD chemicals vary, and depend upon various
factors (set/setting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_and_setting)

I suppose MRI/PET/CAT scans could see what's happening.

"Brains on Trial with Alan Alda"

As brain scanning techniques advance, their influence in criminal
cases is becoming critically important. An innovative two-part series,
BRAINS ON TRIAL WITH ALAN ALDA, explores how the growing ability to
separate truth from lies, even decode people's thoughts and memories,
may radically affect how criminal trials are conducted in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/@pbsbrainsontrial/videos
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From Newsgroup: sci.misc

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:54:10 -0000 (UTC), Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:

the brain is a mysterious thing

https://www.kpbs.org/news/arts-culture/2013/09/09/brains-trial-alan-alda


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From Newsgroup: sci.misc

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:54:10 -0000 (UTC), Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:

I wonder what's going on with the mushrooms.

It would be interesting to know if "Set and setting" plays a role

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_and_setting

Animals on Psychedelics: Survival of the Trippiest
Do animals do drugs? Every chance they get.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-playing-field/201012/animals-on-psychedelics-survival-of-the-trippiest

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From Newsgroup: sci.misc

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:54:10 -0000 (UTC)
Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:

I wonder what's going on with the mushrooms.

Elijah
------
the brain is a mysterious thing

Theory: the brain *is* a mushroom. Well, that would be an interesting
turn of events now, wouldn't it!

Clearly I'm suffering from something as well - I see stupid people.
Everywhere. They don't even know they're stupid.
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