Did mushrooms direct human evolution?

Jim O'Shaughnessy discussed the intriguing "Stoned Ape Theory," which posits that the consumption of psychedelic mushrooms by ancient human ancestors led to significant evolutionary changes. Specifically, he mentions that these mushrooms may have been responsible for the rapid increase in human cranial capacity and the development of the prefrontal cortex, occurring from around 2 million years ago to 300,000 years ago. This theory suggests that psychedelic mushrooms facilitated the growth of new neural pathways, potentially impacting human evolution in a profound way 1.

Moreover, there was mention of the panspermia theory, which speculates that mushrooms might be extraterrestrial, having possibly directed human evolution from a distance. This idea weaves into broader discussions of the potential ancient and cosmic significance of mushrooms, hinting at their role not just in direct physiological changes but also in the broader scope of human civilization and consciousness development 1 2.