Rethinking Intelligence: Beyond Centralized Brains

Because octopuses do just fine without intelligence set in a unified brain while trees, fungi and even single-cell bacteria seem to know what do to, we questioned the realities of what we call intelligence.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

Does “Intelligence” Require a Centralized Brain?

You’re absolutely right to question the idea that a centralized brain is the only key to intelligence. Here’s a breakdown:

Beyond the Brain:

• Octopuses: These fascinating creatures exhibit complex behaviors like problem-solving, tool use, and even short-term memory despite lacking a centralized brain. Their intelligence seems distributed throughout their nervous system [1].
• Plants and Trees: While they don’t have brains, plants can respond and adapt to their environment. Root systems can navigate towards water sources, and plants can adjust their growth patterns for sunlight [2]. They might not be “thinking” in the same way we do, but they demonstrate a form of knowledge about themselves and their surroundings nonetheless.
• Single-celled organisms: Even bacteria can exhibit surprisingly complex behaviors, like navigating towards nutrients or swarming together in response to stimuli [3]!

Rethinking Intelligence:

These examples challenge the traditional view of intelligence as solely reliant on a centralized brain. Perhaps it exists on a spectrum, with different creatures exhibiting it in unique ways:

• Brain-based : Humans and other animals with complex nervous systems process information and solve problems in a centralized location.
• Distributed: Octopuses and some other invertebrates might have intelligence spread throughout their nervous system.
• Environmental: Plants and even bacteria demonstrate a form of intelligence by responding and adapting to their environment.

Brain vs. Capability:

Having a large brain doesn’t necessarily equate to superior intelligence. For example, dolphins have brains comparable in size to some primates, but they excel in different cognitive areas.

• How does animal intelligence compare to human intelligence?
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• What Animal Knowledge Reveals About Human Stupidity
• Rosie, the Wild Turkey Alone in the City: Should We Be Worried?

So, are we overvaluing brains?

Perhaps! Focusing solely on brain size or structure might be limiting our understanding. It’s important to consider how different organisms interact with and learn from their environment, even without a traditional “brain.”

Here are some resources for further exploration:

• Octopuses: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/octopus-facts-research-intelligence
• 2. https://www.bbc.com/news/10598926
• Plants: https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/how-we-can-adapt-plants-to-save-our-planet.html
• 3. https://www.quora.com/How-intelligent-is-a-single-celled-organism