Plant cognition

Plant cognition is the study of the mental capacities of plants.^[1] It explores the idea that plants are capable of responding to and learning from stimuli through the processes of sensitization and habituation. Some research claims that plants have physical structures functioning in the same way as the nervous systems of animals. ^[2][3] Plant cognition is closely related to the idea of plant neurobiology.

History

The idea of cognition in plants was first explored by Charles Darwin in the late 1800s. His findings are discussed in the book The Power of Movement in Plants, in which he discusses plant tropisms .^[4]

In 2005, the first International Symposium on Plant Neurobiology was held in Florence, followed by the formation of the Society for Plant Neurobiology.^[5] The society's goal was to support and promote the then newly formed field of plant neurobiology. In 2009, the group changed its name to the Society of Plant Signaling and Behavior and expanded its view.

Research

In order to measure the response of plants to stimuli, V.A. Opritov^[6] and 3 other scientists measured the responses of pumpkin seedlings to chilling. Their data shows evidence of sensitization and habituation, two of the most basic forms of learning and evidence of cognition.

Opinions

The idea of plant cognition and neurobiology is a source of debate.

Amadeo Alpi and 35 other scientists published an article in 2007 titled “Plant Neurobiology: No brain, No gain?” in Trends in Plant Science.^[7] In this article, they argue that since there is no evidence for the presence of neurons in plants, the idea of plant neurobiology and cognition is unfounded and needs to be redefined.

In response to this article, Francisco Calvo Garzón published an article in Plant Signaling and Behavior.^[8] He states that while plants do not have "neurons" as are discussed with animals, they possess an information-processing system composed of cells. He argues that this system can be used as a basis for discussing cognitive abilities in plants.

In 2012, Paco Calvo Garzón and Fred Keijzer published evidence that plants exhibited structures equivalent to (1) action potentials (2) neurotransmitters and (3) synapses. Also, they stated that a large part of plant activity takes place underground, and that the notion of a 'root brain' was first mooted by Charles Darwin in 1880. Free movement was not necessarily a criterion of cognition, they held. The authors gave five conditions of minimal cognition in living beings, and concluded that 'plants are cognitive in a minimal, embodied sense that also applies to many animals and even bacteria.'^[9]

See also

• Embodied cognition

References

1. ↑ Hall, Matthew. Plants as Persons: A Philosophical Botany. Albany: State University of New York, 2011. Print.
2. ↑ Garzon, Paco; Keijzer, Fred (2011). "Plants: Adaptive behavior, root-brains, and minimal cognition". Adaptive Behavior. 19 (3): 155 – 171. doi:10.1177/1059712311409446. 
3. ↑ Karban, Richard (2008). "Plant behaviour and communication". Ecology Letters. 11: 727–739. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01183.x.  |access-date= requires |url= (help)
4. ↑ Darwin, C. (1989). The power of movement in plants. London: Pickering and Chatto.
5. ↑ "Plant Neurobiology". 
6. ↑ "Analysis of possible involvement of local bioelectric responses in chilling perception by higher plants exemplified by Cucurbita pepo". Russian Journal of Plant Physiology. 52: 801–808. 2005. doi:10.1007/s11183-005-0118-2. 
7. ↑ Alpi, A; Amrhein, N; Bertl, A; et al. (2007). "Plant Neurobiology: No Brain, No Gain?". Trends in Plant Science. 12: 135–136. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2007.03.002. PMID 17368081. 
8. ↑ Garzon, Francisco Calvo (2007). "The quest for cognition in plant neurobiology". Plant Signaling and Behavior. 2: 208–211. doi:10.4161/psb.2.4.4470. PMC 2634130. PMID 19516990. 
9. ↑ Garzon, Paco; Keijzer, Fred (2011). "Plants: Adaptive behavior, root-brains, and minimal cognition". Adaptive Behavior. 19 (3): 155 – 171. doi:10.1177/1059712311409446.