Introduction: What is Cognition in Biology?

• Cognition is the ability to process information, learn, remember, and make decisions.
• This paper shows that many biological systems – from single cells to plants – use cognitive-like processes even without a brain.
• It argues that information processing is a common principle across life, not only in animals.

Neurons and Beyond: The Building Blocks of Cognitive Processes

• Neurons in the brain are well known for memory and decision making.
• However, similar signal processing methods existed in cells long before brains evolved.
• Metaphor: Think of neurons as the fastest couriers, while early cells communicated with slower, yet effective, methods.

Crossover Between Neural and Non-Neural Mechanisms

• Even tissues outside the brain can store memories and process information.
• For example, in amphibian limb regeneration, nerves help guide regrowth initially but later the tissue “learns” to regenerate without them.
• This shows that non-neural cells have their own built-in memory systems.

Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Neural Cognition

• Molecules like the cytoskeleton (the cell’s internal framework) can change shape and store information.
• Chemical reactions and gradients (reaction-diffusion systems) can work like simple computer programs to process signals.
• Analogy: It is like following a recipe where ingredients combine in specific ways to produce a desired outcome.

Cognitive Capabilities of Single Cells

• Even single cells (such as bacteria or amoebae) can remember past conditions and adjust their behavior accordingly.
• They exhibit simple learning processes, such as moving toward nutrients and away from harmful substances.
• Definition: Pseudopods are temporary cell extensions that help cells move, much like a snail’s foot.

Slime Molds: Simple Organisms Solving Complex Problems

• Slime molds, though not animals, can solve puzzles like mazes by finding the best paths to food.
• This behavior suggests they possess a form of collective memory and decision making.
• Analogy: Imagine a group of people working together to choose the quickest route without a map.

Cognition in Plants

• Plants lack a brain but still use electrical signals and chemical messengers to react to their surroundings.
• For instance, roots sense water and nutrients and adjust their growth to seek out the best conditions.
• Metaphor: A plant’s root system functions like an underground network of sensors and decision-makers.

Animal Cell Physiology: Information Processing Beyond the Brain

• Even non-neural cells in our bodies, such as muscle and bone cells, process information and retain memory-like states.
• This means that “cognition” can be a property of many parts of an organism.
• Example: Cardiac memory describes how heart cells remember previous electrical activity, which can affect heartbeat patterns.

Somatic Pattern Memories: The Role of Bioelectricity

• Bioelectric signals – electrical potentials across cell membranes – help guide tissue growth and regeneration.
• These signals act as blueprints, instructing cells on where and how to build organs.
• Analogy: Like an architect’s blueprint, bioelectric signals direct construction even without a central “brain.”

Conclusion: A New Perspective on Biological Intelligence

• The paper suggests that cognition is a fundamental property of life, present even in systems without a head or brain.
• This perspective opens new ways to understand regeneration, development, and even cancer through information processing.
• In essence, many cells and tissues possess a basic form of intelligence that allows them to learn and adapt.

引言：什么是生物学中的认知？

• 认知是指处理信息、学习、记忆和做出决策的能力。
• 本文展示了许多生物系统——从单个细胞到植物——即使没有大脑也能进行类似认知的过程。
• 它论证了信息处理是生命的普遍原则，而不仅仅存在于动物中。

神经元及其延伸：构成认知过程的基石

• 大脑中的神经元以记忆和决策功能而著称。
• 然而，早在大脑进化出现之前，细胞中就存在类似的信号处理机制。
• 比喻：把神经元看作最快的快递员，而早期细胞则采用较慢但有效的通信方式。

神经与非神经机制的交叉

• 即使是非大脑组织也能存储记忆并处理信息。
• 例如，在两栖动物肢体再生中，初期神经对再生起引导作用，但随后组织可以独立再生。
• 这说明非神经细胞拥有自己的“记忆”系统。

非神经认知的分子机制

• 诸如细胞骨架等分子构成了认知的基础——细胞内部的支架能够改变形状并存储信息。
• 化学反应和梯度（反应扩散系统）可以像简单的计算机程序一样处理信号。
• 类比：这就像按照食谱将原料按特定方式混合，从而得到预期的结果。

单细胞的认知能力

• 即使是单个细胞，如细菌或变形虫，也能记住过去的环境，并相应地调整其行为。
• 它们展现出简单的学习过程，比如向有利的营养物质方向移动，避开有害因素。
• 定义：伪足是细胞暂时伸出的部分，帮助其移动，类似于蜗牛的足部。

黏菌：简单生物解决复杂问题

• 黏菌虽然不是动物，但能通过寻找最优路径来解决迷宫等难题。
• 这种行为显示出它们具备某种集体记忆和决策能力。
• 比喻：就像一群人没有地图却协作找出最佳路线。

植物中的认知

• 植物没有大脑，但利用电信号和化学信使来感知和响应环境变化。
• 例如，植物根部能感知水分和养分，并调整生长方向以寻找最佳环境。
• 比喻：植物的根系就像一个地下传感器和决策网络。

动物细胞生理：超越大脑的信息处理

• 即使是体内的其他细胞，如肌肉和骨细胞，也能处理信息并保存类似记忆的状态。
• 这表明“认知”的概念可以适用于生物体的各个部分。
• 例如：心脏记忆指的是心肌细胞记住过去电活动的方式，从而影响心跳模式。

体细胞模式记忆：生物电的作用

• 生物电信号——细胞膜上的电位差——帮助引导组织的生长与再生。
• 这些信号就像蓝图一样，指导细胞如何生长以及如何构建器官。
• 类比：就像建筑师的蓝图，即使没有中央“大脑”，也能指导结构构建。

结论：生物智能的新视角

• 本文提出，认知是生命的一种基本属性，即使在没有头部或大脑的系统中也存在。
• 这种观点为通过信息处理来理解再生、发育乃至癌症提供了新的思路。
• 总之，许多细胞和组织具有一种基本的智能，使它们能够学习并适应环境变化。