How teaching molecules to think is revealing what a 'mind' really is
We all struggle with self-control sometimes. We tell ourselves only one more piece of chocolate, one more glass of wine, one more episode of a binge-worthy series before bed, but then carry on regardless. But who, or what, even is this “self” engaging in this push and pull, before giving in to temptation? The cells in our gut somehow collaborate with those in our brain and hands to reach for the chocolate bar, the wine bottle or the “next episode” button. And, with ever-increasing complexity, at some point a line is crossed, and the whole becomes more than the sum of its parts. That is to say, a self – the entity which acts in the world in ways that serve your goals and desires – emerges.
What if, though, “selves” are present in those very cells, ahead of the point at which they merge to form a greater whole? It might sound outlandish, but biological simulations are indicating that those minuscule units of life, which we usually think about as passive machines – cogs blindly governed by the laws of physics – have their own goals and display agency. Surprisingly, even simple networks of biomolecules appear to display some degree of a self, a revelation that could lead to novel ways of treating health conditions with far fewer side effects.
Recent studies of life forms ranging from plants to slime moulds have revealed cognitive abilities across the tree of life.
EEB core faculty member and MSU theoretical biologist Emily Dolson says: “It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that brains are our first example of cognition, and a lot of people therefore think that brains must be special [in this respect].”
Read the full story by Conor Feehly in New Scientist.
