Although plants are generally immobile and lack the most obvious brain activities of animals and humans, they are not only able to show all the attributes of intelligent behaviour but they are also equipped with neuronal molecules, especially synaptotagmins and glutamate/glycine-gated glutamate receptors. Recent advances in plant cell biology allowed identification of plant synapses transporting the plant-specific neurotransmitter-like molecule, auxin. This suggests that synaptic communication is not limited to animals and humans but seems to be widespread throughout plant tissues. Root apices seated at the anterior pole of the plant body show many features which allow us to propose that they, especially their transition zones, act in some way as brain-like command centres. The opposite posterior pole harbours sexual organs and is specialized for plant reproduction. Last but not least, we propose that vascular tissues represent highways for plant nervous activity allowing rapid exchange of information between the growing points of above-ground organs and the brain-like zones in the root apices.
There is a long history of studies on plant intelligence starting with ARISTOTLE in about 280BC, who was convinced that plants have a soul and feelings, and culminating with Charles DARWIN’S (1880) statement, in his influential book ‘The Power of Movement in Plants’, that the root apex acts like a diffuse brain, resembling brains of lower animals. On page 573, Charles DARWIN, assisted by his son, FRANCIS, wrote about the root apex with its “. . . brain being seated within the anterior end of the body, receiving impressions from the sense-organs, and directing the several movements” (DARWIN, 1880). Although studies on plant ‘neurobiology’ continue up to the present day (BOSE,1926; SIMONS, 1992; ROSHCHINA, 2001), they have been pushed to the extreme periphery of plant biology, as though they were considered scientifically incorrect and embracing some type of parapsychology. Here, we wish to show that this view is incorrect and we, for the first time, discuss critically the new data on ‘nervous plant biology’ obtained both from electrophysiology as well as from cell and molecular biology. Our conclusion is that there is highly specialized group of cells in the root apex, which has almost all the attributes of a brain-like tissue. Historically, plants and animals were considered to be organized on contrasting principles due to the immobility of plants. But the history of cell doctrine, elaborated preferentially by means of observations upon plant material and later fully confirmed for animals (HARRIS, 1999), is a nice example of how originally contrasting ideas have finally converged together. Our present concept, that brain-like attributes are a defining feature of a highly specialised zone of the root apex, is another step in showing that plants and animals, despite obvious superficial differences, are much closer to each other as would ever have been considered. The discovery of these features of nervous-like activities in plants also closes the gap noticed in an attempt to harmonise the number of biological sub-systems necessary for the processing matter, energy and information in both plants and animals (Barlow 1999).

they are not only able to show all the attributes of intelligent behaviour



Uh, intelligent behaviour? I think they better review that before they embarrass themselves further. Skunkushybrid what source did this info come from, I'd like to look it up.

Originally Posted by skunkushybrid THE CANNABIS BRAIN they are not only able to show all the attributes of intelligent behaviour Uh, intelligent behaviour? I think they better review that before they embarrass themselves further. Skunkushybrid what source did this info come from, I'd like to look it up.

Originally Posted by Titania I haven't got the original source for this... lost amidst a whole bunch of other sources... lol. You could take a look at the link here to read the complete article, however...THE CANNABIS BRAINds I also don't see what is so surprising about this research... they are merely confirming what growers have known for years. I like the sound of it, it's very... Darwinian.

Originally Posted by skunkushybrid I agree that plants are more complex than they are given credit for. My problem is with the statement that they show 'all the attributes of intelligence', 'all' being the key word there; If that were so then they would be indistinguishable from human beings, because only man has all the attributes of intelligence. The problem is the word intelligence is thrown around to loosely; Its definition remains the same however: capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc. These are all forms of mental activities, which take place int the CNS, something plants lack. They remain unable to 'learn', but simply respond to stimuli in a preprogramed form, and change accordingly through mutation or evolution. Is what they claim only found in Cannabis, as your title seems to suggest? Thanks for the link by the way.

Originally Posted by skunkushybrid These are all forms of mental activities, which take place int the CNS, something plants lack. They remain unable to 'learn', but simply respond to stimuli in a preprogramed form, and change accordingly through mutation or evolution. Is what they claim only found in Cannabis, as your title seems to suggest? Thanks for the link by the way.

Originally Posted by Titania My grasp of evolution is this: All life, that's ALL life started from an original living thing... maybe just one strand of protein. The day that protein began to multiply and each multiplication landed in it's own environment it adapted in it's own way to it. Essentially all life is the same because it came from one living thing... we could call it god. With this in mind it makes perfect sense to me that plants feel... the pic' in my avatar is supposedly a real depiction of the last ever man-eating tree. Life is the same... we just all evolved our own ways of living it.

Originally Posted by skunkushybrid Life is the same in it's essence, however, there are varying degrees of complexity which give rise to different and more complex attributes. You must see the distinction between life that has consciousness, and that that doesn't. Naturally there is a pyramid structure in which complexity and intelligence is laid out, with humans at the top, followed by chimps, dolphins, dogs ect. Therefore it is logical that there are simple life forms the occupy the lower end of this pyramid, ones who do not display the characteristics mentioned in the link you provided. Plants fit those requirements, and all evidence shows this, the claims made on that website are merely 'their' interpretations of new scientific data. Plants are fascinating and beautiful in their own right, there is no need to exaggerate there abilities.