Technological Approach to Mind Everywhere: An Experimentally-Grounded Framework for Understanding Diverse Bodies and Minds

Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: March 24, 2022

Synthetic biology and bioengineering provide the opportunity to create novel embodied cognitive systems (otherwise known as minds) in a very wide variety of chimeric architectures combining evolved designed material software. These advances are disrupting familiar concepts philosophy mind, require new ways thinking about comparing truly diverse intelligences, whose composition origin not like any available natural model species. In this Perspective, I introduce TAME-Technological Approach Mind Everywhere-a framework for understanding manipulating cognition unconventional substrates. TAME formalizes non-binary (continuous), empirically-based approach strongly agency. provides way think animal sentience an instance collective intelligence cell groups, arising from dynamics that manifest similar numerous other When applied regenerating/developmental systems, suggests perspective on morphogenesis example basal cognition. The deep symmetry between problem-solving anatomical, physiological, transcriptional, 3D (traditional behavioral) spaces drives specific hypotheses by which capacities can increase during evolution. An important medium exploited evolution joining active subunits into greater agents is developmental bioelectricity, implemented pre-neural use ion channels gap junctions scale up cell-level feedback loops anatomical homeostasis. This architecture multi-scale competency biological has implications plasticity bodies minds, greatly potentiating evolvability. Considering classical recent data perspectives computational science, evolutionary biology, cognition, reveals rich research program with many regenerative medicine, artificial intelligence.

Language: Английский

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Plant sentience? Between romanticism and denial: Science

Animal Sentience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8(33)

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

A growing number of non-human animal species are being seriously considered as candidates for sentience, but plants either forgotten or explicitly excluded from these debates. In our view, this is based on the belief that plant behavior hardwired and inflexible an underestimation role electrophysiology. We weigh such assumptions against evidence to suggest it time take hypothesis plants, too, might be sentient. hope target article will serve invitation investigate sentience in with same rigor animals.

Language: Английский

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Minimal physicalism as a scale-free substrate for cognition and consciousness

Neuroscience of Consciousness, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2021(2)

Published: May 1, 2021

Abstract Theories of consciousness and cognition that assume a neural substrate automatically regard phylogenetically basal, nonneural systems as nonconscious noncognitive. Here, we advance scale-free characterization regards basal systems, including synthetic constructs, not only informative about the structure function experience in more complex but also offering distinct advantages for experimental manipulation. Our “minimal physicalist” approach makes no assumptions beyond those quantum information theory, hence is applicable from molecular scale upwards. We show standard concepts integrated information, state broadcasting via small-world networks, hierarchical Bayesian inference emerge naturally this setting, common phenomena stigmergic memory, perceptual coarse-graining, attention switching follow directly thermodynamic requirements classical computation. self-representation lies at heart human autonoetic awareness can be traced far back as, serves same basic functions stress response bacteria other systems.

Language: Английский

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Cellular and evolutionary perspectives on organismal cognition: from unicellular to multicellular organisms

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 139(4), P. 503 - 513

Published: Jan. 25, 2022

Abstract In this paper, we follow the evolutionary origins of cells as unicellular organisms and their evolution towards multicellularity, with a focus on plants animals, both which have two basic types organismal self-identities: immunological neuronal. Most animal immune system its mesenchymal tissues are amoeba-like without flagella or cilia form only loose cell–cell contacts. On other hand, neuronal epithelial typically ciliated assemble synapses. contrast, walled higher lack cilia. However, lower up to gymnosperm tree Ginkgo biloba flagellated sperm cells. our symbiotic concept eukaryogenesis, first ancient eukaryotic emerged from merger large host cell small guest later transformed into nucleus. This duality at origin matches sexual gametes. It also corresponds system/neural dualities self-identities in animals plants.

Language: Английский

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Towards the Idea of Molecular Brains

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 22(21), P. 11868 - 11868

Published: Nov. 1, 2021

How can single cells without nervous systems perform complex behaviours such as habituation, associative learning and decision making, which are considered the hallmark of animals with a brain? Are there molecular that underlie cognitive properties equivalent to those This review follows development idea brains from Darwin’s “root brain hypothesis”, through bacterial chemotaxis, recent discovery neuron-like r-protein networks in ribosome. By combining structural biology view Bayesian approach, this explores evolutionary labyrinth information processing across scales. Ribosomal protein open window into what were probably earliest signalling emerge before radiation three kingdoms. While ribosomal characterised by long-lasting interactions between their nodes, cell essentially based on transient interactions. As corollary, while signals propagated persistent may be ephemeral, whose constrain diffusing cytoplasm durable time, post-translational modifications proteins or second messenger synthesis. The duration nature signals, turn, implies different mechanisms for integration multiple making. Evolution then reinvented metazoans. simple display architectural functional analogies comparison could suggest scale invariance processing. At level, significant complexification eukaryotic is associated burst acquisition new conserved aromatic amino acids. Knowing residues play critical role allosteric receptors channels, observation suggests general π charged acids signal We think these findings provide basis designing future computers organic processors.

Language: Английский

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Endless forms most beautiful 2.0: teleonomy and the bioengineering of chimaeric and synthetic organisms

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 139(4), P. 457 - 486

Published: July 14, 2022

Abstract The rich variety of biological forms and behaviours results from one evolutionary history on Earth, via frozen accidents selection in specific environments. This ubiquitous baggage natural, familiar model species obscures the plasticity swarm intelligence cellular collectives. Significant gaps exist our understanding origin anatomical novelty, relationship between genome form, strategies for control large-scale structure function regenerative medicine bioengineering. Analysis living that have never existed before is necessary to reveal deep design principles life as it can be. We briefly review existing examples chimaeras, cyborgs, hybrots other beings along spectrum containing evolved designed systems. To drive experimental progress multicellular synthetic morphology, we propose teleonomic (goal-seeking, problem-solving) behaviour diverse problem spaces a powerful invariant across possible regardless composition or origin. Cybernetic perspectives chimaeric morphogenesis erase artificial distinctions established by past limitations technology imagination. suggest multi-scale competency architecture facilitates evolution robust problem-solving, machines. Creation analysis novel will be an essential testbed emerging field intelligence, with numerous implications medicine, robotics ethics.

Language: Английский

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Back to square one: the bodily roots of conscious experiences in early life

Neuroscience of Consciousness, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2021(2)

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

Abstract Most theoretical and empirical discussions about the nature of consciousness are typically couched in a way that endorses tacit adult-centric vision-based perspective. This paper defends idea science may be put on fruitful track for its next phase by examining subjective experiences through bottom-up developmental lens. We draw attention to intrinsic link between consciousness, experiencing subjects, which first foremost embodied situated organisms essentially concerned with self-preservation within precarious environment. Our suggests order understand what ‘is’, one should tackle fundamental question: how do ‘arise’ from square one? then highlight key yet overlooked aspect human studies, namely earliest closest environment an subject is body another subject. present evidence speaking favour fairly sophisticated forms early sensorimotor integration bodily signals self-generated actions already being established utero. conclude these primitive fundamentally relational co-embodied roots our have crucial impact beings consciously experience self, world across their lifespan.

Language: Английский

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Cellular sentience as the primary source of biological order and evolution

Biosystems, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 218, P. 104694 - 104694

Published: May 18, 2022

Language: Английский

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A scale-free universal relational information matrix (N-space) reconciles the information problem: N-space as the fabric of reality

Communicative & Integrative Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: May 11, 2023

Cellular measurement is a crucial faculty in living systems, and exaptations are acknowledged as significant source of evolutionary innovation. However, the possibility that origin biological order predicated on an exaptation information from abiotic realm has not been previously explored. To support this hypothesis, existence universal holographic relational space-time matrix proposed scale-free unification biotic systems. In framework, property representing interactions between matter energy can be subject to observation. Since observers also universally distributed, deemed fundamental fabric universe. The novel concept compartmentalizing N-space into separate partitions nodes informational density defined by Markov blankets boundaries introduced, permitting their applicability both Based these partitions, systems derive meaningful conditional settlement quantum entanglement asymmetries coherences separately bounded reference frames sufficient construed form measurement. These relationships precursor reiterating nested architecture N-space-derived fields characterize life account for order. Accordingly, partitioning preexisting processes within Abiotic states thereby reconcile differing forms information. essential difference lies attributes specific observer/detectors, clarifying several contentious aspects self-referential consciousness.

Language: Английский

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Cellular Basis of Cognition in Evolution: From Protists and Fungi Up to Animals, Plants, and Root-Fungal Networks

The MIT Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 33 - 58

Published: Aug. 22, 2023

Language: Английский

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