• READ MORE Plants possess INTELLECT and the capability to address challenges.

Scientists have noticed plants engaging with their surroundings in manners suggesting consciousness, according to some researchers' claims.

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 represents the fundamental type of learning,' Calvo explained to Sport.bangjo.co.id.

'This pattern of folding, then not folding any more, is consistent with the idea that this plant has learned something as a result of experience, not from its genes.’

The professor also noted that other plants communicate with each other through chemicals, solve problems, and even appear to have memories.

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

Plants instead possess a vascular system, an intricate web of cells designed for transporting water, minerals, and nutrients to facilitate their growth.

'We think of plants as resources, for fuel, for oxygen, for textiles, for foods, but we don’t respect them for their own sake,' said Calvo.

'By comprehending an alternate form of intelligence that doesn’t necessitate brains, maybe we can grasp what brings us together within the tapestry of life.'

We have to locate the main key.

Certain plants seem to 'memorize' past droughts, using water more sparingly compared to those without such experiences, and strawberries can learn to link light cues with areas rich in nutrients, according to the professor.

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

Scientists have likewise suggested 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 perceive intelligence solely through our own lens – one that focuses on creatures with brains. This narrow view causes us to overlook potential forms of intelligence and awareness beyond what we traditionally recognize.

'In our opinion, you must be considered an animal to be intelligent; otherwise, it’s impossible. This perspective is quite shortsighted,' stated Calvo.

A recently published research from Cornell University discovered that goldenrod plants release a chemical when consumed by beetles, which makes the insects believe the plant is injured and not a good food source—then neighboring goldenrods follow suit.

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

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

Calvo is part of an increasing group of researchers advocating for a fresh perspective on how plants tackle issues and share information. They suggest that plant behavior shares similarities with human thought processes, albeit devoid of a centralized nervous system like a brain.

"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 and it closes, this occurs due to these action potentials," he explained.

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

Calvo has likewise proposed that plants 'think' through their vascular system—a network of cells that facilitates the transport of water, minerals, and nutrients for growth purposes.

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.

Electrical impulses are 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. This wave propagates through the stem and other leaves, enabling the plant to produce a protective chemical defense mechanism against the caterpillar,' he elaborated.

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

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

When it comes to plants, they can't perform those actions - therefore, their approach is to maintain a completely decentralized system.

If you cut off a limb, they can sprout another branch. However, that won't occur for me if you remove my arm.

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 manage to comprehend an alternative form of intelligence that doesn’t necessitate brains, maybe we can grasp what brings us together within the tree of life. It’s essential to discover the master key.

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