The mushroom experience project - A comparative study of psilocybin species

The preailing scientific view is that there are no differences in effects elicited by different species of psilocybin mushroom. We need you help us put this to the test.

Any perceived differences in effect are considered to arise entirely from the dosage ingested and external set and setting factors and the influence of expectation, and nothing intrinsic to the mushroom itself. However, while the jury is still out on the possible modulating influence of other secondary compounds in these fungi, it is worth considering that we’ve barely scratched the surface of chemically profiling them.

Unexplored Chemistry of Psilocybin Mushrooms

We know little about the activity of secondary tryptamines found in these mushrooms, being largely reliant on the findings of animal dosing studies. Fungi are master chemical alchemists, and aside from the presence of various tryptamine alkaloids (aside from psilocybin and psilocin), psilocybin fungi are known to produce a range of other compounds such as terpenoids, beta-carbolines, lumichromes, and diketopiperazines.

Species such as Psilocybe natalensis have been profiled and found to contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. We do not yet have a complete and comprehensive picture about what is chemically present in these fungi (and how this might vary across species), let alone the activity of these various compounds, whether acting in isolation or in synergy with others. There is a growing body of research suggesting that there may be more than psilocybin alone underlying the effect of these fungi.

One recently published study concluded that the “varied cocktail of tryptamines in wild mushrooms could influence the medicinal effect”, with another stating that the “P. cubensis metabolome possibly contains thousands of uncharacterized compounds, at least some of which may be bioactive” and “that our understanding of the chemical diversity of these mushrooms is largely incomplete.”

Clearly, there is more to discover.

We should be mindful that these fungi are not merely packets of pure psilocybin, but chemically complex organisms.

A Complex Picture of Mushroom Experiences

Chemical concerns aside, there are also the testimonials from people who have experience with multiple species to consider. Some researchers might be quick to dismiss any perceived differences in effect between species as being solely down to external set and setting factors… but perhaps doing so might be a little hasty. There is a chance that the reality is a little more nuanced and complex.

While not everybody agrees that different species seem to consistently elicit distinct effects, many experienced psilonauts seem to adhere to this view. It is important to emphasise that this discussion is concerning different species of psilocybin mushroom - not strains or cultivars of a single species such as P. cubensis. Some growers will forgo growing certain species completely having sampled others that they prefer. For example, species such as Panaeolus cyanescens and P. natalensis tend to be consistently favourably compared to P. cubensis.

In a similar vein, indigenous Mexican mushroom-using groups such as the Mazatec (who have over 500+ years of experience of working with mushrooms) take the view that different species of mushroom have different qualities, and some are revered more than others or used for specific purposes. This view is shared by ethnobotanist Kathleen Harrison, who has worked extensively with the Mazatec and various Psilocybe species.

Western growers often express similar sentiments. Notably, the person who played a key role in developing this strain of Cubensis, Richard Gutierrez, does not like to partake of this mushroom himself. In an interview with Hamilton Morris he stated “...it’s never been my mushroom of choice; I’ve always eaten [Psilocybe] cyanescens.” In 1988, Cubensis connoisseur Terrence McKenna had an experience with P. cubensis that was so harrowing that he swore off heroic mushroom doses altogether.

While P. cubensis is by far the most well known and commonly used psilocybin mushroom in the Western world, among the Mazatec it appears to occupy the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of shamanic preference. Sometimes it is used by Mestizo charlatan shamans in ceremonies as a means of generating income from tourists, and not all Mazatec shamans will use it, including the late Mazatec curandera, Maria Sabina. Sabina’s most cherished species was P. mexicana, the species from which Albert Hofmann first isolated psilocybin. The Mazatec say of this species ‘que suave’ (‘how smooth’), while the Zapotec give this mushroom to their children as they view it as the friendliest and most forgiving.

As one psilonaut on the Shroomery forums put it:

“I was really amazed how different the trip from each species is after just thinking “it’s all psilocybin”.”

Join Our Study and Contribute to Psilocybin Research

Our goal is to deepen the scientific understanding of psilocybin mushroom experiences and how they may vary across species. We need a large and diverse sample size, so your participation is crucial!

Research Objectives

This study seeks to identify patterns and distinctions in the subjective experiences elicited by various psilocybin mushroom species, addressing questions such as: Do different species cause different subjective effects? Do certain effects always co-occur? Are there a set of clusters into which we can group species depending on their effects?

Your input as an experienced user is critical in enabling us to discern these patterns, contributing to a more nuanced understanding in the field of fungal psychopharmacology. This is especially the case for those of you experienced with species that are less frequently used.

How to Participate

We’ll provide a list of psychoactive mushroom species and ask you to select those you’ve used in the past 12 months. For each species, we’ll gather information about sensory perceptions, cognitive changes, and emotional responses. Your input will help us build a more nuanced understanding of these fascinating fungi.

Link to survey:

https://ipz.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a5W81vgOy9VEPMW

Dr Sam Gandy is an ecologist working for Onaya Science, leading our research into ecological aspects of ayahuasca use and nature connection.