Minds Everywhere.

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  • Author(s): JACOBSEN, ROWAN (AUTHOR)
  • Source:
    Scientific American. Feb2024, Vol. 330 Issue 2, p44-51. 8p. 1 Color Photograph, 4 Diagrams, 2 Cartoon or Caricatures.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      TUFTS University; XENOPUS; ANIMAL cognition; ARTIFICIAL intelligence; COGNITIVE ability; PLANARIA; BIOLOGISTS
    • Abstract:
      The article discusses the concept of basal cognition, which suggests that intelligence and cognitive abilities can exist in organisms without brains. It explores the research of Michael Levin, a biologist at Tufts University, who has been studying the role of bioelectricity in cellular communication and coordination. Levin's experiments with planaria worms and African clawed frogs have shown that changes in voltage can affect cell behavior and development, including regeneration and body shape control. The article challenges the idea that true cognition is exclusive to humans and suggests that intelligence may be more widespread in the natural world. This research has potential implications for understanding the evolution of cognition and could have applications in cancer therapy, organ regeneration, and artificial intelligence. [Extracted from the article]