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Re:AlphaFold Found Possible Psychedelics by bongodongobob on Friday January 19, 2024 @09:41AM (#39056004)
I don't really buy this theory. Taking mushrooms is more likely to make me want to curl up in bed rather than run around. And would it really last long enough to get an animal outside of it's normal range? Not in my opinion.
Re:AlphaFold Found Possible Psychedelics by __MatrixMan__ on Friday January 19, 2024 @01:54PM (#39059476)
For me, psilocybin catalyzed such pivotal decisions as moving out of my parents' house, getting married, and changing careers. It seems plausible that it would be relevant to the founder effect (https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Founder-Effect) in other animals.

Sometimes we need a little shove to start doing new things that end up being advantageous. There's no reason to believe that we're unique in that way. If that shove is advantageous enough to be worth returning for a second shove, well now you've got the seed of a cross-kingdom relationship.

Re:AlphaFold Found Possible Psychedelics by bongodongobob on Friday January 19, 2024 @06:26PM (#39062818)
But that is outside of the timeframe you'd be spreading spores. Deciding to move out in a month isn't doing anything for the mushroom.
Re:AlphaFold Found Possible Psychedelics by __MatrixMan__ on Friday January 19, 2024 @09:03PM (#39063932)
Well in that particular case, moving out meant I could dedicate a whole closet to cultivating them. But I don't think that cultivation is a necessary step, merely returning for more is enough to start the kind of relationship where adaptations which allow for one party to help the other are selected for.