Learning without a brain-how bacteria store memories and remember the past like artificial neural networks
A study published in PRX Life reveals that E. coli bacteria can store memories of past nutrient availability to make future decisions. This suggests that single-celled organisms use information processing similar to artificial neural networks to adapt to changing environments.
Why it matters
Understanding how simple organisms learn provides insights into the fundamental nature of intelligence and biological information processing.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source E. coli can grow at remarkable rates. Credit: Eric Erbe, Christopher Pooley/USDA Learning is often thought to require a brain . But learning is a broad concept that does not necessarily depend on neurons .
If an organism uses information from past experiences to shape its future decisions, it is also learning.
Research from my lab, published in the journal PRX Life, shows that even a single bacterium can learn from experience, store memories of the past and use those memories to prepare for the future.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in