I'm a Scientist: The Surprising Truth About Plant Consciousness

• READ MORE Plants possess INTELLECT and can tackle problems.

Scientists have noticed plants engaging with their surroundings in manners that some researchers suggest indicate consciousness.

Paco Calvo, who is a faculty member at the University of Murcia, Spain has been studying plant intelligence and problem-solving for many years, discovering that the mimosa seems to 'acquire knowledge through experience' as it ceases to curl up.

"In psychology, that's the fundamental type of learning," Calvo explained to .

This sequence of folding followed by no further folding aligns with the notion that the plant acquired knowledge through experience rather than inheriting it genetically.

The professor further mentioned that various plants convey information using chemical signals, tackle issues, and seem to possess some form of memory.

A number of researchers characterize intelligence as possessing a central nervous system through which electrical impulses travel, conveying messages to other nerve cells for processing information.

Rather than that, plants possess a vascular system, an intricate web of cells designed for transporting water, minerals, and nutrients to facilitate their growth.

"We view plants as resources—for fuel, oxygen, textiles, and food—but we fail to appreciate them simply for what they are," stated Calvo.

'By grasping another form of intelligence that doesn’t necessitate brains, maybe we can comprehend what brings us all together within the tree of life.'

We have to locate the main key.

Certain plants seem to 'memorize' drought conditions, using water more sparingly compared to those that haven't experienced such shortages before, as mentioned by the professor. Additionally, strawberries can learn to link light cues with areas rich in nutrients.

He went on to say that plants also develop strategies to release their pollen when pollinators like bees are active.

Scientists have likewise theorized that plants might possess the ability to count, reach conclusions, identify their kin, and perhaps retain memories of past occurrences.

The issue lies in how humans define intelligence based on our own characteristics—focusing solely on creatures with brains—which causes us to overlook potential forms of intelligence and awareness beyond what we recognize.

'In our opinion, you must be considered an animal to be deemed intelligent. This perspective is quite narrow-minded,' stated Calvo.

A recently published research from Cornell University discovered that goldenrod plants release a chemical when beetle larvae feed on them, causing the insects to believe the plant is injured and unsuitable for eating, which prompts neighboring goldenrods to respond similarly.

Andre Kessler, a chemical ecologist and professor at Cornell University, stated: "This aligns with our understanding of intelligence."

'Based on the environmental cues it picks up, the plant alters its typical actions.'

Calvo is part of an increasing group of researchers advocating for a fresh perspective on how plants address challenges and share information. They suggest that these processes bear striking similarities to human thought patterns, albeit devoid of a centralized nervous system like our brains.

"When plant cells experience changes in voltage through action potentials, similar to neurons, they essentially send electrical signals. So when you stimulate the sensory hairs of a Venus flytrap twice causing it to close, this occurs due to such an action potential," he explained.

'Lacking a brain or nervous system doesn’t imply that you can’t engage in electrochemical communication!'

Calvo has also proposed that plants 'think' utilizing their vascular system—a network of cells that facilitates the transport of water, minerals, and nutrients to support growth.

However, it's utilized for transmitting information, he pointed out.

' lacking a brain or nervous system does not imply the absence of electrochemical signaling in some capacity,' the professor went on to explain.

You have electrical impulses moving through the circulatory system—this means your plant doesn’t just react locally to being touched; it can also respond at the opposite end of the organism.

'Although plants lack a brain, they utilize electrochemical signaling at their distinct pace to sustain themselves.'

Calvo mentioned that the neurotransmitters found in human brains, like glutamate or GABA, are also present in plants and are occasionally utilized similarly.

'If you consider a scenario where a plant has a caterpillar feeding on one of its leaves, the plant can utilize the neurotransmitter glutamate to initiate a calcium wave that propagates across its stems and foliage, thereby producing a protective compound to fend off the caterpillar,' he clarified.

Calvo explained that plants must adopt a distinct survival approach compared to humans due to being anchored in the ground; thus, their method is to “spread and dominate.”

‘So if you try to grab or attack an animal, it can fight back,' he explained.

'In the case of plants, they cannot do any of that - so their strategy is to have everything truly decentralized.

If you cut off a limb, they can sprout another branch. But if you remove my arm, I won’t be able to regrow it.

Studying plant intelligence might play a key role in enhancing our self-understanding and combating climate change.

'We view plants as resources—for fuel, oxygen, textiles, and food—but we fail to appreciate them simply for what they are,' stated Calvo.

'If we can understand another form of intelligence that does not require brains, perhaps we can understand what unites us all in the tree of life. We need to find the master key.’

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