Bioelectric networks: the cognitive glue enabling evolutionary scaling from physiology to mind

Animal Cognition, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(6), P. 1865 - 1891

Published: May 19, 2023

Abstract Each of us made the remarkable journey from mere matter to mind: starting life as a quiescent oocyte (“just chemistry and physics”), slowly, gradually, becoming an adult human with complex metacognitive processes, hopes, dreams. In addition, even though we feel ourselves be unified, single Self, distinct emergent dynamics termite mounds other swarms, reality is that all intelligence collective intelligence: each consists huge number cells working together generate coherent cognitive being goals, preferences, memories belong whole not its parts. Basal cognition quest understand how Mind scales—how large numbers competent subunits can work become intelligences expand scale their possible goals. Crucially, trick turning homeostatic, cell-level physiological competencies into large-scale behavioral limited electrical brain. Evolution was using bioelectric signaling long before neurons muscles appeared, solve problem creating repairing bodies. this Perspective, I review deep symmetry between developmental morphogenesis classical behavior. describe highly conserved mechanisms enable implement regulative embryogenesis, regeneration, cancer suppression. sketch story evolutionary pivot repurposed algorithms cellular machinery navigation morphospace 3D world which so readily recognize intelligence. Understanding underlie construction bodies brains provides essential path understanding natural evolution, bioengineered design, diverse within beyond phylogenetic history Earth.

Language: Английский

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Darwin’s agential materials: evolutionary implications of multiscale competency in developmental biology

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 80(6)

Published: May 8, 2023

Abstract A critical aspect of evolution is the layer developmental physiology that operates between genotype and anatomical phenotype. While much work has addressed mechanisms evolvability specific genetic architectures with emergent complexity, one not been sufficiently explored: implications morphogenetic problem-solving competencies for evolutionary process itself. The cells works are passive components: rather, they have numerous capabilities behavior because derive from ancestral unicellular organisms rich repertoires. In multicellular organisms, these must be tamed, can exploited, by process. Specifically, biological structures a multiscale competency architecture where cells, tissues, organs exhibit regulative plasticity—the ability to adjust perturbations such as external injury or internal modifications still accomplish adaptive tasks across metabolic, transcriptional, physiological, problem spaces. Here, I review examples illustrating how physiological circuits guiding cellular collective impart computational properties agential material serves substrate then explore ways in which intelligence during morphogenesis affect evolution, providing new perspective on search This key feature software life helps explain remarkable speed robustness sheds light relationship genomes functional phenotypes.

Language: Английский

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Collective intelligence: A unifying concept for integrating biology across scales and substrates

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: March 28, 2024

Abstract A defining feature of biology is the use a multiscale architecture, ranging from molecular networks to cells, tissues, organs, whole bodies, and swarms. Crucially however, not only nested structurally, but also functionally: each level able solve problems in distinct problem spaces, such as physiological, morphological, behavioral state space. Percolating adaptive functionality one competent subunits higher functional organization requires collective dynamics: multiple components must work together achieve specific outcomes. Here we overview number biological examples at different scales which highlight ability cellular material make decisions that implement cooperation toward homeodynamic endpoints, intelligence by solving cell, tissue, whole-organism levels. We explore hypothesis province groups animals, an important symmetry exists between science swarms competencies cells other systems scales. then briefly outline implications this approach, possible impact tools field diverse for regenerative medicine synthetic bioengineering.

Language: Английский

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Metareview: a survey of active matter reviews

The European Physical Journal E, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 48(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

In the past years, amount of research on active matter has grown extremely rapidly, a fact that is reflected in particular by existence more than 1000 reviews this topic. Moreover, field become very diverse, ranging from theoretical studies statistical mechanics particles to applied work medical applications microrobots and biological systems artificial swimmers. This makes it difficult get an overview over as whole. Here, we provide such form metareview article surveys existing review articles books matter. Thereby, provides useful starting point for finding literature about specific

Language: Английский

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There’s Plenty of Room Right Here: Biological Systems as Evolved, Overloaded, Multi-Scale Machines

Biomimetics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8(1), P. 110 - 110

Published: March 8, 2023

The applicability of computational models to the biological world is an active topic debate. We argue that a useful path forward results from abandoning hard boundaries between categories and adopting observer-dependent, pragmatic view. Such view dissolves contingent dichotomies driven by human cognitive biases (e.g., tendency oversimplify) prior technological limitations in favor more continuous view, necessitated study evolution, developmental biology, intelligent machines. Form function are tightly entwined nature, some cases, robotics as well. Thus, efforts re-shape living systems for biomedical or bioengineering purposes require prediction control their at multiple scales. This challenging many reasons, one which perform functions same place time. refer this “polycomputing”—the ability substrate simultaneously compute different things, make those available observers. important way things kind computer, but not familiar, linear, deterministic kind; rather, computers broad sense materials, reported rapidly growing physical computing literature. observer-centered framework computations performed evolved designed will improve understanding mesoscale events, it has already done quantum relativistic To develop our how life performs polycomputing, can be convinced alter functions, we first create technologies polycompute learn functions. Here, review examples idea overloading on hardware design principle helps understand build both systems. Learning hack existing polycomputing substrates, well evolve new ones, have massive impacts regenerative medicine, robotics, computer engineering.

Language: Английский

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Future medicine: from molecular pathways to the collective intelligence of the body

Trends in Molecular Medicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(9), P. 687 - 710

Published: July 20, 2023

The remarkable anatomical homeostasis exhibited by complex living organisms suggests that they are inherently reprogrammable information-processing systems offer numerous interfaces to their physiological and problem-solving capacities. We briefly review data suggesting the multiscale competency of forms affords a new path for biomedicine exploits innate collective intelligence tissues organs. concept tissue-level allostatic goal-directedness is already bearing fruit in clinical practice. sketch roadmap towards 'somatic psychiatry' using advances bioelectricity behavioral neuroscience design methods induce self-repair structure function. Relaxing assumption cellular control mechanisms static, exploiting powerful concepts from cybernetics, science, developmental biology may spark definitive solutions current biomedical challenges.

Language: Английский

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Motile Living Biobots Self‐Construct from Adult Human Somatic Progenitor Seed Cells

Advanced Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(4)

Published: Nov. 30, 2023

Fundamental knowledge gaps exist about the plasticity of cells from adult soma and potential diversity body shape behavior in living constructs derived genetically wild-type cells. Here anthrobots are introduced, a spheroid-shaped multicellular biological robot (biobot) platform with diameters ranging 30 to 500 microns cilia-powered locomotive abilities. Each Anthrobot begins as single cell, human lung, self-constructs into motile biobot after being cultured extra cellular matrix for 2 weeks transferred minimally viscous habitat. Anthrobots exhibit diverse behaviors motility patterns tight loops straight lines speeds 5-50 s

Language: Английский

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Cellular signaling pathways as plastic, proto-cognitive systems: Implications for biomedicine

Patterns, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(5), P. 100737 - 100737

Published: April 26, 2023

Many aspects of health and disease are modeled using the abstraction a "pathway"—a set protein or other subcellular activities with specified functional linkages between them. This metaphor is paradigmatic case deterministic, mechanistic framework that focuses biomedical intervention strategies on altering members this network up-/down-regulation links them—rewiring molecular hardware. However, pathways transcriptional networks exhibit interesting unexpected capabilities such as trainability (memory) information processing in context-sensitive manner. Specifically, they may be amenable to manipulation via their history stimuli (equivalent experiences behavioral science). If true, would enable new class interventions target dynamic physiological "software" implemented by gene-regulatory networks. Here, we briefly review clinical laboratory data show how high-level cognitive inputs pathway modulation interact determine outcomes vivo. Further, propose an expanded view from perspective basal cognition argue broader understanding process contextual across scales will catalyze progress many areas physiology neurobiology. We fuller functionality tractability must go beyond focus details drug structure encompass well embedding within higher levels organization organism, numerous implications for science addressing disease. Exploiting tools concepts sciences explore proto-cognitive underlying more than philosophical stance biochemical processes; at stake roadmap overcoming limitations today's pharmacological inferring future therapeutic wide range states.

Language: Английский

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Materials Inspired by Living Functions

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(37)

Published: March 19, 2024

Abstract Engineering or mimicking living materials found in nature has the potential to transform use of materials. Unlike classic synthetic which are typically optimized for static properties, economics, and recently also sustainability, life dynamic, feedback‐controlled, evolving, adaptive. Although do not exhibit such complicated functionalities, researchers increasingly challenging this viewpoint expanding material concepts toward dynamic systems inspired by selected life‐like functions. Herein, it is suggested that can be approached from two perspectives: through engineering biological organisms their functions provide basis new materials, producing with rudimentary life‐inspired Current advances discussed perspectives (i) features based on built‐in memory associative learning, (ii) emergent structures self‐regulated designs using non‐equilibrium systems, (iii) interfacing non‐living form cellular community control growth open routes fabrication. Strategies combining (i)–(iii) responses applications interactive autonomous devices, helping realize next‐generation sensors, soft robots, external over bioproduction self‐organizing structural

Language: Английский

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Aging as a loss of morphostatic information: A developmental bioelectricity perspective

Ageing Research Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 97, P. 102310 - 102310

Published: April 17, 2024

Language: Английский

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