1. Integrated information as a possible basis for plant consciousness.
- Author
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Calvo, Paco, Baluška, František, and Trewavas, Anthony
- Subjects
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CONSCIOUSNESS , *SUSTAINABLE fashion , *INFORMATION theory , *MERISTEMS - Abstract
It is commonly assumed that plants do not possess consciousness. Since the criterion for this assumption is usually human consciousness this assumption represents a top down attitude. It is obvious that plants are not animals and using animal criteria of consciousness will lead to its rejection in plants. However using a bottom up evolutionary approach and a leading theory of consciousness, Integrated Information Theory, we report that we find evidence that indicates that plant meristems act in a conscious fashion although probably at the level of minimal consciousness. Since many plants contain multiple meristems these observations highlight a very different evolutionary approach to consciousness in biological organisms. • Integrated information constitutes a basis for plant awareness. • A bottom-up biological view looks at the potential origins of consciousness to understand better its biological function. • Surgical interventions suggest the shoot, root and cambial meristems are candidates for regions of integrated information. • Plants retain a conscious capability, although the extent and size of the capability remains to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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