Psychedelics and the future evolution of humanity

Human evolution—marked by rapid brain growth, ultrasociality, and cultural niche construction—constrains and shapes possible future adaptations. Psychedelics act as potent plastogens that stimulate neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, and serotonin-mediated stress adaptation, fostering openness, positive social relations, cognitive novelty, and dissolution of self-boundaries. Reviewing clinical and evolutionary evidence, the paper argues that psychedelics can enhance humanity's capacity to adapt to future challenges, particularly those arising from social differences. Their strong dependence on set and setting underscores both risks and the need for careful guidance to ensure beneficial outcomes. Psychedelics may facilitate human self-transformations through augmentation, symbiosis, and transcendence.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper examines possible future evolution through knowledge of how past human evolution constrains possibilities for the future. Uniquely human evolution-brain, ultrasociality, and cultural niche development-are examined to see what these suggest about future adaptations. Rapid brain evolution involves neuroplasticity, a re-use and rewiring of neural networks. Psychedelics are extraordinary plastogens stimulating neuroplasticity. This makes consideration of clinical evidence regarding their effects pertinent to inferences about their possible future roles through their ability to: enhance brain neuroplasticity and neurogenesis providing new networks; stimulate serotonin-mediated active stress adaptation strategy and its innovative problem-solving; induction of openness, extroversion, and positive social relations; dissolution of self-boundaries permitting broader identifications; and increasing cognitive novelty and integration. The paper reviews interdisciplinary knowledge to situate psychedelics in futures inquiry and assess their implications for enhancing adaptation to the future. Evolutionary sciences illustrate psychedelics likely can enhance our adaptations for more harmonious futures in which humanity can overcome challenges posed by social differences. This psychedelic instrumentalization can facilitate human self-transformations needed for future adaptations by enhancing major trends of human transformation through augmentation, symbiosis and transcendence. Psychedelics' strong set and setting influences illustrate their risks and the need for carefully guided efforts to assure their positive contributions to human transformations.