Research conducted by Tohoku and Nagaoka Universities in Japan has revealed that fungi can exhibit behaviors similar to decision-making. The study observed the fungus Phanerochaete velutina, a wood decomposer, to understand how its mycelial network reacts to different spatial arrangements of wood blocks, comparing two patterns: a circle and a cross.
Over the course of 116 days, the scientists measured the development of the mycelial network and the rate of decomposition of the wood. In the circular arrangement, the blocks maintained a relatively uniform connection, while in the cross arrangement, the blocks located at the ends showed a greater degree of connection, suggesting a strategy of "reconnaissance" of the environment.
The results indicated that the rate of wood decomposition was directly related to the degree of connection between the blocks. In the cross arrangement, decomposition was lower than in the circle. However, the outer blocks in the cross pattern showed greater connectivity, suggesting that the fungus could be using these blocks as "outposts" for the absorption of nutrients and water.
This behavior is surprising, considering that fungi do not have a nervous system. However, research suggests that mycelial networks may function similarly to neural networks, transferring information about the environment and adapting their growth based on these perceptions. Thus, the ability of fungi to modify their mycelial network according to the arrangement of wood blocks may be a primitive form of environmental recognition.
This study is part of a growing field of research into “basal cognition” in brainless organisms. Researchers have previously observed intelligent behaviors in fungi, such as memory and decision-making. For example, in a previous experiment, the fungus P. velutina was able to "remember" the direction of a wood source and decide whether to migrate to a new source based on its size and distance.
These findings are relevant to understanding the role of fungi in forest ecosystems, where they play essential roles in the decomposition of organic matter and the carbon cycle. The research also opens doors to investigations into the primitive intelligence of organisms and their potential applications in biologically inspired technologies.
The adaptive behavior of fungi, evidenced by the way they modify their mycelium networks to optimize wood decomposition, could provide insights into the development of bioinspired computing systems. This study demonstrates that even without a brain, fungi possess a form of “recognition” that could influence their role in ecosystems and technology.
The next step, according to the researchers, is to investigate how these mycelial growth patterns can be applied in studies on the intelligence of organisms without a nervous system and their implications for the development of new technologies.
More information can be found at doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2024.101387
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