Emily Johnson
Fungi, including mushrooms, have long been treated as an afterthought in the Western world, despite their significant contributions to the evolution of our current ecosystem and their many uses in the human world. However, recent advances in research indicate that fungi respond to sound waves in a manner akin to how humans respond to music. This has sparked a new wave of cultural fascination with fungi, with artists like Tarun Nayar and groups like the Octopus Project playing music with mushrooms by using technology to translate the electrical signals of mushrooms into frequencies we can understand as music. This cultural moment has been deemed a mushrooming of human interest in the hidden world of fungi.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fungi respond to sound waves | Fungi respond to sound waves in a manner akin to how humans respond to music |
| Fungi and humans | Fungi are more similar to humans than previously thought |
| Sound treatment | Low-frequency sounds increase the productivity of certain fungi |
| Mushroom music | The online fascination with fungi's funky beats |
| Biodata sonification | Musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) biodata sonification devices are used to translate the data into notes to be played on computer software |
| Mushroom music experiments | The funky beats of mushroom music are mesmerizing TikTok |
| Musical influence | Experimental composer John Cage published a book of recipes, photos, and essays about the musicality of mushrooms in 1972 |
| Mother Earth's Plantasia is a 1976 album of childlike synthesizer music by Mort Garson that claimed to help plants grow | |
| Stevie Wonder's Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants, a documentary soundtrack |
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What You'll Learn
Fungi respond to sound
Fungi, including mushrooms, respond to sound waves despite having no auditory organs. This response to sound is a relatively new discovery, as mycology, the study of fungi, has long been treated as an afterthought to the study of plants in the Western world.
Fungi sense and respond to sound waves in one of two ways: biochemically or transductively. The biochemical response involves the release of compounds such as melatonin and indole, which are produced in times of stress and injury. The transductive mechanism involves converting sound to electrical signals, similar to the human ear, which can be used to regulate fungal growth and development. These electrical fluctuations of fungi have been measured by musician-scientists in the Octopus Project using musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) biodata sonification devices.
The mycelium, or mass of branching filaments that make up a fungus, is responsible for responding to sound waves. Low-frequency sound waves, such as those produced by thunder before lightning strikes, may act as a warning signal for fungi to prepare for the impending rain. In response, the mycelium releases compounds that nourish not just the fungus but also the entire forest ecosystem.
Research has shown that playing sound for certain fungi, such as Trichoderma harzianum, can increase their growth rates significantly. This suggests that sound could be a new tool for improving the health of forests and encouraging beneficial microbes to thrive. Additionally, low-frequency sounds seem to increase the productivity of certain fungi, such as oyster mushrooms, which can be "sound-treated" to increase their yield and growth rate.
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Fungi's electrical signals converted into music
Fungi's electrical signals can be converted into music using synthesizers. The process involves attaching sensors to the fungi to capture their bioelectrical signals, which are then translated into frequencies or musical notes that can be played through a synthesizer. This results in a series of dynamic and oddly soothing pieces of music, offering a unique perspective on the hidden world of fungi.
The electrical signals from mushrooms are converted into music through a process called biodata sonification. Musician-scientists from the Octopus Project have been at the forefront of these experiments, using Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) devices to capture and translate the electrical fluctuations of fungi into music. This dynamic biodata from fungi differs from plants, which typically play a single note at regular intervals.
The resulting music has been described as hypnotic and mesmerizing, with the potential to provide therapeutic benefits. While the mushrooms themselves are not deliberately choosing the notes, the electrical signals they emit influence the composition. This process has been likened to having a conversation with the mushrooms, providing a unique form of communication and offering a glimpse into the mysterious kingdom of fungi.
The ability to convert fungi's electrical signals into music has sparked a cultural wave of fascination with these organisms. From their use in traditional medicine to their potential in enhancing consciousness, fungi are gaining recognition for their diverse contributions to human society. As research in mycology progresses, we may uncover more fascinating insights into the sentience and behaviour of these complex life forms.
While the process of converting fungi's electrical signals into music is intriguing, it is important to recognize that the resulting sounds may not directly represent the mushrooms' natural communication. The translation involves interpreting the electrical signals through algorithms and synthesizers, potentially altering the original message. Nonetheless, the artistic interpretation of these signals has created a unique connection between humans and fungi, fostering a deeper appreciation for their mysterious nature.
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Fungi's electrical signals are not directly translated into music
While mushrooms have been found to respond to sound waves, their electrical signals are not directly translated into music. Instead, musician-scientists have used technology to interpret and transform these signals into music. This process involves using devices like synthesizers, musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) biodata sonification devices, and custom music boxes to capture and convert the electrical fluctuations of fungi into audible notes.
For example, the Octopus Project, a musical group led by Yvonne Lambert, employed MIDI devices to attach sensors to mushrooms and translate their electrical data into notes played on computer software. This process, known as biodata sonification, results in a dynamic and dense signal of biodata that showcases the sentience of fungi in perceiving and responding to environmental changes. However, it is important to note that the electrical signals from the mushrooms are not directly mapped to the musical notes we hear. An algorithm is used to round the signals to the closest musical note, creating a melody that is influenced by but not identical to the mushroom's electrical signals.
In another instance, YouTuber MycoLyco demonstrated how a simple Pink Oyster Mushroom could be patched into a modular synthesizer setup. By passing a current through the mushrooms, changes in electrical resistance were measured and converted into control signals that modulated the synthesizer's pitch, timbre, rhythm, and effects, creating a unique symphony of sounds.
These endeavours highlight the innovative ways in which technology can be used to explore and interpret the electrical signals generated by fungi. While the resulting music may be influenced by the mushrooms' electrical activity, it is essential to understand that the translation process involves interpretation and creative license, resulting in a musical representation rather than a direct translation of the fungi's electrical language.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the ability of fungi to sense and respond to sound waves is a relatively new discovery. Mushrooms, like many other organisms, can sense and react to various stimuli, including light, chemicals, and touch. However, their unique relationship with sound is only now being explored, and it may hold fascinating insights into the sentience and behaviour of these organisms.
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Fungi's response to light, sound, touch, and chemicals
Fungi, like mushrooms, have been found to respond to music, indicating a remarkable ability to sense and react to sound waves. This discovery adds to the growing body of knowledge about fungi's diverse responses to various stimuli, including light, chemicals, and touch.
Response to Light
Fungi have been observed to possess light-sensing abilities, influencing their growth, development, and reproduction. For instance, the fungus Neurospora crassa exhibits altered light-dependent gene regulation, with the RCO-1/RCM-1 repressor complex playing a crucial role in this process. Additionally, the phytochrome FphA in Aspergillus nidulans represses sexual development in the presence of red light.
Response to Sound
Fungi's response to sound is a relatively new area of exploration. Recent studies have revealed that certain fungi, such as Oyster mushrooms, respond positively to low-frequency sounds, leading to increased productivity and growth rates. This has sparked interest in using sound-treated fungi in psychedelic research to understand and enhance consciousness.
Response to Touch
Fungi have a sense of touch, facilitated by mechanoreceptors in their cell walls, similar to the touch receptors in human skin. This sense of touch is critical for interpreting their environment and often signals a transition to a new developmental state. Contact sensing, or thigmo-based responses, include thigmo differentiation, thigmonasty, and thigmotropism, where physical features guide the direction of hyphal growth.
Response to Chemicals
Fungi respond to chemicals in their environment, which plays a significant role in their classification and understanding their biochemical characteristics. For example, the ability of fungi to metabolize specific biochemicals or their reaction to chemical tests are used as distinguishing features. Additionally, chemical cues often complement the response to touch, contributing to normal developmental responses in fungi.
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Fungi's role in psychedelic research
Fungi, particularly mushrooms, have played a significant role in psychedelic research. Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin. When ingested, psilocybin is converted by the body into psilocin, a psychedelic compound. Psilocybin mushrooms induce hallucinations, alter perception of reality, and can affect all the senses, thoughts, and emotions.
The potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin mushrooms have been explored in various studies. Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert's Harvard Psilocybin Project in the 1960s examined the effects of psilocybin on prisoners, finding a decrease in the recidivism rate. Additionally, psilocybin has been studied for its potential in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mood disorders. A 2006 John Hopkins study found that psilocybin provided 'mystical-type experiences' that had substantial and sustained personal meaning for terminally ill cancer patients, suggesting its potential in providing a new perspective on death and illness.
While the use of psilocybin mushrooms is controversial, with potential adverse effects and the risk of a ''bad trip,'' recent advances in technology have opened up new avenues for exploration. Biodata sonification, for example, has been used to translate the electrical fluctuations of fungi into music, providing a unique perspective on the mysterious fungal kingdom. This has sparked a cultural fascination with fungi, leading to further exploration of their potential benefits and their role in human history.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms do not make music themselves, but their electrical signals can be converted into music through a synthesizer.
Sensors are attached to the mushrooms to translate their electrical signals into frequencies that can be turned into music.
Mushroom music has been described as psychedelic boops, beeps, and womps.
The use of mushrooms in music is part of a larger cultural wave inspired by these mysterious organisms. It also adds another layer to the human connection with mushrooms.
Notable examples include the Octopus Project, Eryk Salvaggio, and Tarun Nayar.
