Consciousness and cognition in plants release_4znovlfqm5awzaqh6a7mng6fgm

by Miguel Segundo-Ortin, Paco Calvo

Published in Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science by Wiley.

2021   e1578

Abstract

Unlike animal behavior, behavior in plants is traditionally assumed to be completely determined either genetically or environmentally. Under this assumption, plants are usually considered to be noncognitive organisms. This view nonetheless clashes with a growing body of empirical research that shows that many sophisticated cognitive capabilities traditionally assumed to be exclusive to animals are exhibited by plants too. Yet, if plants can be considered cognitive, even in a minimal sense, can they also be considered conscious? Some authors defend that the quest for plant consciousness is worth pursuing, under the premise that sentience can play a role in facilitating plant's sophisticated behavior. The goal of this article is not to provide a positive argument for plant cognition and consciousness, but to invite a constructive, empirically informed debate about it. After reviewing the empirical literature concerning plant cognition, we introduce the reader to the emerging field of plant neurobiology. Research on plant electrical and chemical signaling can help shed light into the biological bases for plant sentience. To conclude, we shall present a series of approaches to scientifically investigate plant consciousness. In sum, we invite the reader to consider the idea that if consciousness boils down to some form of biological adaptation, we should not exclude a priori the possibility that plants have evolved their own phenomenal experience of the world. This article is categorized under: Cognitive Biology > Evolutionary Roots of Cognition Philosophy > Consciousness Neuroscience > Cognition.
In text/plain format

Archived Files and Locations

application/pdf  2.7 MB
file_ox3zhrwrwzejrkhyq2oyx3u2vq
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com (web)
web.archive.org (webarchive)
Read Archived PDF
Preserved and Accessible
Type  article-journal
Stage   published
Date   2021-09-23
Language   en ?
DOI  10.1002/wcs.1578
PubMed  34558231
Container Metadata
Not in DOAJ
In Keepers Registry
ISSN-L:  1939-5078
Work Entity
access all versions, variants, and formats of this works (eg, pre-prints)
Catalog Record
Revision: eef62ee5-f79c-4db0-8d6e-24e24515ee42
API URL: JSON