Gravitational response of the slime mold Physarum

Block, I.; Wolke, A.; Briegleb, W.

doi:10.1016/0273-1177(94)90382-4

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…For instance, higher frequencies are observed in response to attractive, high-quality resources [41], whereas lower frequencies are recorded when P. polycephalum encounters repulsive stimuli such as chemical repellents [40]. As a result, slime moulds migrate towards or away from a variety of external stimuli such as chemicals [38], light [42], temperature [43], humidity [44], gravity [45] or substrate distortion [46].…”

Section: Cognitive Abilities Of Physarum Polycephalummentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It can find its way in a maze [49], construct efficient transport networks [50], distinguish how different masses distort the substrate [46], avoid obstacles [51] and risky environments [52], optimize its nutrient intake [53,54], and use conspecifics' cues to choose what substrate to exploit [55,56]. All these feats rely on the abilities of P. polycephalum to sense and respond simultaneously to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stimuli [38–45].…”

Section: Cognitive Abilities Of Physarum Polycephalummentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adaptive behaviour and learning in slime moulds: the role of oscillations

Boussard

Fessel

Oettmeier

et al. 2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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The slime mould Physarum polycephalum , an aneural organism, uses information from previous experiences to adjust its behaviour, but the mechanisms by which this is accomplished remain unknown. This article examines the possible role of oscillations in learning and memory in slime moulds. Slime moulds share surprising similarities with the network of synaptic connections in animal brains. First, their topology derives from a network of interconnected, vein-like tubes in which signalling molecules are transported. Second, network motility, which generates slime mould behaviour, is driven by distinct oscillations that organize into spatio-temporal wave patterns. Likewise, neural activity in the brain is organized in a variety of oscillations characterized by different frequencies. Interestingly, the oscillating networks of slime moulds are not precursors of nervous systems but, rather, an alternative architecture. Here, we argue that comparable information-processing operations can be realized on different architectures sharing similar oscillatory properties. After describing learning abilities and oscillatory activities of P. polycephalum , we explore the relation between network oscillations and learning, and evaluate the organism's global architecture with respect to information-processing potential. We hypothesize that, as in the brain, modulation of spontaneous oscillations may sustain learning in slime mould. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Basal cognition: conceptual tools and the view from the single cell’.

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Section: Cognitive Abilities Of Physarum Polycephalummentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cognitive Abilities Of Physarum Polycephalummentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive behaviour and learning in slime moulds: the role of oscillations

Boussard

Fessel

Oettmeier

et al. 2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…In the cytoplasm of the myxotnycete Physarum polyeephalum, mitochondria ate thought to sediment in response to reorientation of the organism and, by so doing, reset the rate of cytoplasmie streaming -the measurable graviresponse in this case. In addition to tnitochondria, chromosomes and nucleoli, other organelles have been considered as potential graviperceptors (Audus 1962;Sack 1991;Block et al 1994). They are all, however, also part of a basic complement of organelles required to sustain living processes.…”

Section: Dynamic Gravistimulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Calcium oxalate and Ca3(PO4)2 (apatite) are two other minerals found in plants and fungi, respectively. Whether they have a role in graviresponses is not known, although apatite has been suggested in this context for Physamm polycephalum (Block et al 1994) (though the evidence on which this suggestion is based is not above criticism because of methodological uncertainties of Ca localization), and oxalate crystals have been recorded in gravitropic nodes of wheat stems (Prankerd 1920). In this last-mentioned study, Prankerd noted that 200 other plant species which he had surveyed lacked oxalate crystals in their stems, but all had starch statoliths.…”

Section: Dynamic Gravistimulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gravity perception in plants: a multiplicity of systems derived by evolution?

Barlow

1995

Plant Cell & Environment

113

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The origin and subsequent evolution of life on Earth have taken place within an environment where a 1g gravitational field is omnipresent. Living organisms, at whatever stage in their evolution, have accommodated this variable in both their structure and their function. Systems have also evolved whereby gravitational accelerations are perceived by gravisensors and these, in turn, have led to responses that give particular spatial orientations to living processes. It is proposed that, the higher the evolutionary status of an organism, the more likely it is that it will possess multiple systems for gravisensing because evolution discards little that assists fitness and hence supplements with new gravisensing systems those which already existed within evolutionarily older, less complex organisms. Moreover, in comparison with a single gravisensing system, a multiplicity of systems permits gravity to participate in a wider range of developmental programmes, such as taxes, morphisms and tropisms, through the action of different sensory mechanisms coupled to distinct signalling and response pathways. Whatever the precise mechanism of graviperception in any given set of conditions, all may transduce the g-force by means of a membrane system. Transduction may involve the endoplasmic reticulum and thence the plasma membrane.

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“…18.1) was developed in the 1960s to enable experiments with reduced gravity (Sobick and Sievers 1979). These approaches showed, among other things, that the contraction period of plasmodial strands decreased under space conditions (Block et al 1994). Moreover, an experiment with the model fungus Neurospora crassa analysed the effect of microgravity on circadian rhythms, using a space shuttle flight, but no effect on appearance or duration of circadian rhythms was observed (Aplatov 1992).…”

Section: Mid-1980s-mid-1990s: Discovery and Characterization Of Cellumentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungal Biotechnology in Space: Why and How?

Cortesão

Schütze

Marx³

et al. 2020

Grand Challenges in Biology and Biotechnology

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Human space exploration is envisioning long-term spaceflight missions that go far beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). However, maintaining the necessary resources on a long-duration manned mission has its many challenges. Currently, on the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts are provided with resources in resupply missions. These missions transport all kinds of resources such as food, spacecraft materials, medical supplies or scientific experiments. The frequent exchange between Earth and spacecraft will not be possible for long-duration far-reaching missions, such as a 500-day human mission to Mars or the colonization of the Moon. Moreover, the cost per kilo calculated to be around $12,600 when launching a spacecraft (Harper et al. 2016) makes it impractical to bring all the needed supplies at once. The success of space exploration requires the ability to be Earthindependent, particularly when it comes to resources. The ideal scenario would be M. Cortesão

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Gravitational response of the slime mold Physarum

Cited by 16 publications

References 19 publications

Adaptive behaviour and learning in slime moulds: the role of oscillations

Adaptive behaviour and learning in slime moulds: the role of oscillations

Gravity perception in plants: a multiplicity of systems derived by evolution?

Fungal Biotechnology in Space: Why and How?

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