And why is your computer mouse lagging? And why is the Triangle Bob made out of hamburger meat?

Ooh... Okay. Okay. I know what I have to make a video on. Queue the intro!

Hey there! Welcome to Life Noggin!

While they may look like any ordinary mushroom, magic mushrooms are very complex!

They include about 180 mushroom species that contain the psychoactive chemical, psilocybin.  

When ingested, psilocybin is converted by the body to psilocin,  

which causes hallucinogenic or psychedelic effects including changes in perception, mood, and thought.

And could even be used to treat mental disorders.

Depending on a variety of factors, including  the strength of the mushroom, amount consumed, and the person's size,

the mind-altering effects can last anywhere from four to six hours.

These chemicals have a similar molecular structure to serotonin,  

which is used by your body to deliver messages between nerve cells.

And plays a role in many important functions like mood, sleep, and digestion.

Because these are so similar, psilocin binds to the same receptors.

But its the activation of one of these receptors in particular,  5-HT2A, that causes the trippy effect,  

which can include a more open mind, an intense sensory experience, and hallucinations.

5-HT2A are widely found in the cortex, the area of the brain responsible for reasoning and rational thought.

And they themselves are associated with the regulation of mood, imagination, and perception.

Some research has also found that psilocin affects another part of the brain called the default mode network,

which becomes active when your mind wanders during introspection.

The scientists responsible for the study believe that psilocin interferes with the neural connections here,  

forcing the brain to make new, unusual connections that result in a fragmented sense of self.

This rewiring of the brain is helping scientists treat mental health disorders that are marked by fixed patterns of thinking, like depression.

One clinical trial even found that psilocybin-assisted therapy can alleviate major depressive disorder symptoms, in some cases for at least a year.

Scientists are also researching its effects on OCD, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety.

Of course, this is all in a research setting and, like any drug taken recreationally,  

magic mushrooms can pose a serious health risk and in some cases, be life-threatening.  

If too much is taken you can overdose and experience vomiting, psychosis, seizures, and even end up in a coma.

Or you could have a negative reaction known as a bad trip where you may see a really unpleasant hallucination or feel panic or fear.

People who don't have a support system around them can find themselves in a pretty dangerous and scary situation.

So please act responsibly and leave the  mind-altering medications and substances to professionals.

You don't want to risk having those issues I previously mentioned.

You also don't want to risk getting misidentified poisonous ones or any mushrooms laced with something really bad!

So are there any other drugs you'd like me to discuss?

This was a highly requested video, so thank you to everyone who suggested it! I hope you actually learned something here!

Click here to watch this video we did on derealization or click here to watch this video!

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As always, my name is Blocko, this has been Life Noggin. Don't forget to keep on thinking!