Plant intelligence and attention

Marder, Michael

doi:10.4161/psb.23902

Cited by 42 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Transition from negentropy extraction to negentropy generation encompasses a continuum of intelligent processes, from rudimentary (plant intelligence, e.g., Trevawas, 2002; Marder, 2013) to the most elaborate (human intelligence). In the latter, a spectrum of mechanisms can be involved operating in conjunction with neuronal mechanisms; e.g., from limbic neuromodulation to glial cell function (Chung et al, 2015); from synaptic processes to microtubules (Penrose, 1997).…”

Section: Discussion and Suggestions For Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life and Understanding: The Origins of “Understanding” in Self-Organizing Nervous Systems

Yufik¹,

Friston

2016

Front. Syst. Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article is motivated by a formulation of biotic self-organization in Friston (2013), where the emergence of “life” in coupled material entities (e.g., macromolecules) was predicated on bounded subsets that maintain a degree of statistical independence from the rest of the network. Boundary elements in such systems constitute a Markov blanket; separating the internal states of a system from its surrounding states. In this article, we ask whether Markov blankets operate in the nervous system and underlie the development of intelligence, enabling a progression from the ability to sense the environment to the ability to understand it. Markov blankets have been previously hypothesized to form in neuronal networks as a result of phase transitions that cause network subsets to fold into bounded assemblies, or packets (Yufik and Sheridan, 1997; Yufik, 1998a). The ensuing neuronal packets hypothesis builds on the notion of neuronal assemblies (Hebb, 1949, 1980), treating such assemblies as flexible but stable biophysical structures capable of withstanding entropic erosion. In other words, structures that maintain their integrity under changing conditions. In this treatment, neuronal packets give rise to perception of “objects”; i.e., quasi-stable (stimulus bound) feature groupings that are conserved over multiple presentations (e.g., the experience of perceiving “apple” can be interrupted and resumed many times). Monitoring the variations in such groups enables the apprehension of behavior; i.e., attributing to objects the ability to undergo changes without loss of self-identity. Ultimately, “understanding” involves self-directed composition and manipulation of the ensuing “mental models” that are constituted by neuronal packets, whose dynamics capture relationships among objects: that is, dependencies in the behavior of objects under varying conditions. For example, movement is known to involve rotation of population vectors in the motor cortex (Georgopoulos et al., 1988, 1993). The neuronal packet hypothesis associates “understanding” with the ability to detect and generate coordinated rotation of population vectors—in neuronal packets—in associative cortex and other regions in the brain. The ability to coordinate vector representations in this way is assumed to have developed in conjunction with the ability to postpone overt motor expression of implicit movement, thus creating a mechanism for prediction and behavioral optimization via mental modeling that is unique to higher species. This article advances the notion that Markov blankets—necessary for the emergence of life—have been subsequently exploited by evolution and thus ground the ways that living organisms adapt to their environment, culminating in their ability to understand it.

show abstract

Section: Discussion and Suggestions For Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life and Understanding: The Origins of “Understanding” in Self-Organizing Nervous Systems

Yufik¹,

Friston

2016

Front. Syst. Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Currently, the mainstream of plant sciences considers plants for passive automata-like organisms, lacking any sensory-motoric circuits. But this position, which is based on ancient Aristotelian worldviews, depriving plants of cognition-relevant sensitivities and activities are not tenable anymore (Brenner et al, 2006, 2007;Trewavas, 2007, Trewavas, 2009; Barlow, 2008; Baluška, 2009; Calvo and Keijzer, 2010; Karpiński, 2010; and Szechyńska-Hebda, 2010;; Trewavas and Baluška, 2011; Marder, 2012, 2013; Debono, 2013). Especially root behavior shows cognitive features which are not possible to explain with currently dominated views of passive, automata-like organisms (Baluška et al, 2010b; Barlow, 2010a, b; Gagliano et al, 2012).…”

Section: Perspectives and Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root Apex Transition Zone As Oscillatory Zone

Baluška¹,

Mancuso²

2013

Front. Plant Sci.

118

140

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Root apex of higher plants shows very high sensitivity to environmental stimuli. The root cap acts as the most prominent plant sensory organ; sensing diverse physical parameters such as gravity, light, humidity, oxygen, and critical inorganic nutrients. However, the motoric responses to these stimuli are accomplished in the elongation region. This spatial discrepancy was solved when we have discovered and characterized the transition zone which is interpolated between the apical meristem and the subapical elongation zone. Cells of this zone are very active in the cytoskeletal rearrangements, endocytosis and endocytic vesicle recycling, as well as in electric activities. Here we discuss the oscillatory nature of the transition zone which, together with several other features of this zone, suggest that it acts as some kind of command center. In accordance with the early proposal of Charles and Francis Darwin, cells of this root zone receive sensory information from the root cap and instruct the motoric responses of cells in the elongation zone.

show abstract

“…This treatment is neither appropriate, according to various theories of environmental ethics (e.g. Stone 1972, Stone 2010ECNH 2008;Hall 2011;Marder 2013aMarder , 2013bMarder , 2016, nor does it meet demand for environmental sustainability (e.g. Pitman 2007; Kopnina 2015b).…”

Section: Reflection and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was recently suggested that plants are sentient, and thus able to feel pain or by some definitions, suffering (Pelizzon and Gagliano 2015). Further, plants possess complex capabilities previously only associated with animals, such as memory (Chamovitz 2012), and ability to signal and communicate (Falik et al 2011;Marder 2013a).…”

Section: Towards Recognition Of Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic flowers and mowed lawns: the exploration of everyday unsustainability

Kopnina

2018

Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In human-controlled environments and in cultivated landscapes, the plants accommodate social, cultural and economic needs. This article will focus on the use of plants for agriculture, urban planning, forestry, environmental education and indoor decoration in The Netherlands. This exploration, based on literature review and observations, reveals mostly anthropocentric, instrumental and unsustainable practices. In urban landscapes plants are pushed to the margins, if not entirely eradicated. This article shows that moral recognition of plants is an ethical imperative, which is also critically important to achieve environmental sustainability. In line with ecocentric ethics and in the interest of long-term sustainability, this article suggests alternative, more ethical and sustainable ways of relating to plants in The Netherlands and beyond.

show abstract

Plant intelligence and attention

Cited by 42 publications

References 46 publications

Life and Understanding: The Origins of “Understanding” in Self-Organizing Nervous Systems

Life and Understanding: The Origins of “Understanding” in Self-Organizing Nervous Systems

Root Apex Transition Zone As Oscillatory Zone

Plastic flowers and mowed lawns: the exploration of everyday unsustainability

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About