Plant Neurobiology - Commentary - The New Yorker

Summary

In the video script, Michael Pollan delves into the fascinating field of plant neurobiology, exploring how plants, despite lacking brains and neurons, exhibit agency and responsiveness. Time-lapse photography reveals plants as dynamic entities, actively sensing their environment and striving to achieve goals, such as a bean plant's determined efforts to reach a pole. The script also touches on the competitive nature of plants, as seen when one plant gives up after losing a 'race' to a pole to another, showcasing a behavior that, while metaphorical, appears remarkably similar to human-like striving and defeat.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Michael Pollan has a long history of writing about plants and gardening.
• 🧠 The concept of plant neurobiology intrigued Pollan, despite plants lacking brains and neurons.
• 🕊 Plants exist in a different time dimension from humans, often appearing inactive due to their slower movements.
• 📹 Time-lapse photography helps bridge the gap between human and plant time scales, revealing plant activity.
• 🌱 Watching plants in time-lapse can lead to a newfound respect for their capabilities and agency.
• 🔍 A video of a single plant reaching for a pole shows the leaves working hard to assist the plant in achieving its goal.
• 🌱 Once the plant's tendril hooks onto the pole, the leaves appear to relax, suggesting a change in behavior.
• 🎣 The bean plant's growth and movement are described as effortful and purposeful, like casting a fly rod.
• 🤼‍♂️ A second video shows two plants competing for the same pole, with one giving up when it loses the competition.
• 😔 The losing plant appears to 'lose heart' and redirects its efforts elsewhere, but ultimately gives up, suggesting awareness of its environment.
• 🤔 While words like 'striving' and 'knowing' are metaphorical for plants, the videos suggest a level of awareness and effort.

Q & A

Who is Michael Pollan and what is his background in relation to the topic discussed in the transcript?

Michael Pollan is a well-known author who has been writing about plants for a considerable amount of time. He is also an experienced gardener, which has given him a deep understanding and appreciation for the natural world of plants.

What is plant neurobiology and why was Michael Pollan intrigued by it?

Plant neurobiology is a field of study that explores the behavior and responses of plants, despite the absence of brains and neurons. Michael Pollan was intrigued by the concept because it challenges our traditional understanding of how plants operate and interact with their environment.

Why do plants seem inactive or still to humans?

Plants appear inactive or still because they exist in a different time dimension compared to humans. Their movements and responses occur at a slower pace, which is not easily perceptible to us in real time.

How does time-lapse photography help in understanding plant behavior?

Time-lapse photography allows us to observe plant movements and behaviors over an extended period, compressed into a shorter time frame. This helps bridge the gap between the time scales of plants and humans, revealing the dynamic nature of plant life.

What does the video of a single plant reaching for a pole reveal about plant behavior?

The video shows that plants are active agents of their own fate, capable of sensing their environment and moving in a specific direction. It also illustrates how the plant's leaves change behavior once the tendril reaches the pole, appearing to 'relax' and 'be happy'.

How does the bean plant's motion in the video resemble the action of casting a fly rod?

The bean plant's motion is described as effortful and striving, with the plant growing a few centimeters and then 'throwing itself' over and over again with good aim, similar to the repeated casting of a fly rod to hit a specific spot on a river.

What happens in the second video when two bean plants compete for the same pole?

In the second video, when one bean plant reaches the pole first, the other plant seems to lose heart and stops aiming at the pole. It then starts reaching in other directions, behind the pole, as if searching for an alternative support.

Why does the second bean plant eventually give up in the video?

The second bean plant gives up because it is unable to find anything to hold onto behind the pole. It appears to be aware of its environment and the lack of support, leading to a sense of defeat.

How does the behavior of plants in the videos challenge our metaphorical understanding of their actions?

The use of words like 'striving,' 'looking,' 'knowing,' and 'noticing' are metaphorical when applied to plants. While we should be cautious of attributing human-like moods and attitudes to plants, their behavior in the videos suggests a level of awareness and effort that is strikingly similar to human actions.

What is the significance of the script's discussion on plant behavior and our perception of it?

The script highlights the complexity and dynamism of plant life, urging us to reconsider our understanding of plants as passive entities. It encourages a deeper appreciation for the capabilities of plants and the need for further research in plant neurobiology.