Brainless Slime Molds Have Ability To Learn, Scientists Say

First Posted: Apr 28, 2016 04:37 AM EDT
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Do not mock slime molds, for even though they don't have brains, they still learn something new, said scientists. In a study where they watched Physarum polycephalum search for food, they noticed that the slime mold, despite being literally brainless, can learn to ignore chemical threats.

The findings effectively contradict the idea of requiring neurons to learn. The authors of the study noted that while they initially thought learning is a trait limited to organisms with brains and nervous systems, the view has been changing in recent years. This is because they have seen astounding abilities from animals which are supposed to be brainless.

The slime mold, for instance is a single-celled organism much like an amoeba - it was dubbed primitive and survives on bacteria, fungi, and forest detritus for as long as they lived on the planet. Yet, as the Los Angeles Times noted, they have managed to live through intellectual feats.

Slime molds are particularly intelligent. Japanese researchers said that these molds can effectively "design" efficient rail system on maps, solve mazes, and even predict changes.

Romian Boisseau, lead author of the study, as published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, said that despite having only one cell, these molds are capable of doing things that are pretty amazing, considering that many did not think it possible for them to function as much as they do without brains.

The question remains, however, is whether or not they can actually learn? Scientists from Toulouse University in France tested their behaviors in labs, and learned that these creatures are able to learn their reaction to specific chemicals - but only up to a certain extent. Still, how these creatures manage such feat is interesting in the scientific community, as it puts intelligence on a different light.

Boisseau shared that there is a possibility that learning evolved first, and neurons and the nervous system came second - until then, there is still much to learn about these fascinating brainless creatures.

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