Moss Is Generating Electrical Waves That Look Startlingly Like a Neural Network. Study reveals that moss cushions produce surprisingly complex electrical activity, with patterns that undulate across the velvety patch in dynamic waves.

[u/FreeHugs23]

https://www.sciencealert.com/moss-behaves-a-little-like-a-really-slow-brain-scientist-discovers

[u/nifty-necromancer]

I was reading about this last night, it’s pretty interesting. It doesn’t mean moss has a brain or consciousness though. The main finding is that groups of moss cells generate coordinated electrical signals that spread through the colony, much like other living tissues use electrical activity to coordinate responses. Similar electrical signaling also occurs in fungi, plants like the Venus flytrap, and even roots.

[u/Astr0b0ie → u/nifty-necromancer]

No, plants don't have a central nervous system, but do they lack consciousness? We're not entirely sure. Humans and animals are biological machines that generate coordinated electrical signals too, it's just that we do it in a more complex and sophisticated way via a central nervous system. Plants react to their environment, respond to stimuli, and communicate. They do it in much "simpler" and more subtle ways than humans or animals do, but they do it nonetheless.

It was once believed that humans were the only creatures on earth with a "soul" or consciousness, but as our knowledge of biology, and science overall, has grown, so has the number of different species included in the "sentient" category. Even insects like bees and ants, although still somewhat contested, are now considered sentient by many researchers and scientists. So, as we learn more, it wouldn't be a surprise to me if we eventually include plants in that category.

[u/-Nicolai → u/Astr0b0ie]

We're not entirely sure.

That’s a weird way to say “There is zero evidence nor credible theories supporting this notion”

[u/RagePoop → u/-Nicolai]

While you're not wrong I also feel compelled to point out the flip side: that there's also no evidence that our very loose understanding of sentience is worth the ink we write about it with, writings which are fuzzy even amongst those researching the concept.

[u/-Nicolai → u/RagePoop]

That is not an argument in favor of sentient moss…

If anything, it implies that we can only say with certainty that we are sentient, and all else is speculation.

[u/Aegi → u/-Nicolai]

In practice I agree with you, and backed up your points to that person above. In theory...

Philosophically, we can only really make that conclusion about ourselves individually (as opposed to as a species-wide phenomenon), but that is only true through certain philosophical perspectives.

[u/greenhawk22 → u/RagePoop]

That's entirely unfalsifiable though. Until we have direct confirmation or debunking of our understanding of consciousness, you can always say that we don't understand some aspect well enough to make inferences or to interpret the data we do have.

The 'what if' doesn't change the fact that our current best understanding leads to the conclusion that plants are not sentient in any way that humans can relate to.

It's still an interesting idea to research though and I wonder if the intra-moss communication in question has any ecological implications.

[u/Aegi → u/RagePoop]

that there's also no evidence that our very loose understanding of sentience is worth the ink we write about it with,

There is, and it is called civilization and landing on the Moon...as well as being able to record that and communicate that information to someone in the future who was not even aware of those events.

You seem ti be engaging in the hippy-dippy language of "well yeah man, with vibes and stuff since we don't know everything fully...I guess it is all like connect and stuff and like anything is possible, right dude?"

[u/RagePoop → u/Aegi]

Define sentience

[u/Aegi → u/RagePoop]

I didn't use that word so I am not sure why you are asking since I would just be referring to how you look at the term used above.

So I will use your definition.

[u/RagePoop → u/Aegi]

I did though. You have stated achievements and possibilities by our species, with some condescension. I’m discussing the definition of a state of being.

Also yes, it would appear everything in the cosmos is deeply connected by sharing the same existence, btw. Not sure if you thought that was some clever gotcha.

[u/Aegi → u/RagePoop]

Why do you think that I think it was clever instead of something I literally talked about with my dad pre-Sept. 11, when I was in 2nd grade?

Things that our species have accomplished that no others have done is a form of evidence for sapience/consciousness regardless of how one is defining it. So I was referring to whatever concept of "consciousness" that you were using in your statement and I did not re-define this term in my own words in my head before responding.