October 2012 PMID 23045640

Slime mold uses an externalized spatial "memory" to navigate in complex environments.

Chris R Reid, Tanya Latty, Audrey Dussutour, Madeleine Beekman

Mentions

87
Peak: 6 in Jan 2025
across 7 sources since Dec 2020

Extended reach

4,920,006
potential audience

Total likes

160,831

Video views

4,847,328

Mentions per month

Dec 2020 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News32 articles
  • Blogs18 articles
  • Facebook16 posts
  • X / Twitter14 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Reddit3 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions emphasize the remarkable problem-solving skills of slime molds, citing examples like navigating mazes and comparing the externalized memory to artificial intelligence methods. The tone is curious and appreciative, highlighting the research's importance and innovative nature, which signals high relevance and transformative potential.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most posts strongly affirm the significance of the research, emphasizing the mold’s problem-solving abilities and externalized memory, indicating full agreement with the study’s implications.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high curiosity, referencing related papers and broader implications, reflecting strong engagement with the topic.

EngagementHigh engagement

Comments include detailed examples, such as comparing slime mold's navigation to deep reinforcement learning and mentioning external cognition, showing deep analytical discussion.

ImpactHigh impact

Discussions highlight the revolutionary potential of understanding non-neuronal memory systems, suggesting significant influence on fields like robotics, AI, and cognitive science.

Abstract in brief

  • The slime mold Physarum polycephalum, which has no brain, can develop an external form of spatial memory by avoiding areas it has previously explored, helping it navigate complex environments.
  • This externalized memory allows the slime mold to solve the Ushaped trap problem, a test requiring it to bypass barriers and reach a goal, demonstrating advanced navigational skills without gradient-following.
  • The study suggests that such external spatial memory in slime molds supports the idea that simple, non-neuronal organisms use external memory systems as a precursor to the internal memory seen in more complex animals.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Tim Rocktäschel
@_rockt · X

A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussutour, A., & Beekman, M. (2012). Slime mold uses an externalized spatial “memory” to navigate in complex environments. Proceedings of the National Academy https://t.co/ZRdSr0h5Sw

Jan 4, 2025 · 70 likes · 6 shares · 39,813 followers View post →
Mary WildBehav
@wildbehav · X

Os dejo por aquí unos papers sobre este fascinante moho que en realidad es una ameba #NingunHiloSinSuPaper https://t.co/2ZrCMukXg5 https://t.co/YxKr74e3LI https://t.co/OyrVdtdKKd https://t.co/WFitTz5Ryj https://t.co/GtIiICxsEV

May 2, 2023 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 11,346 followers View post →
Umberto León Domínguez
@umbertoleon · X

El Slime Mold (fungi) tiene extended cognition https://t.co/s79GaaJTzZ https://t.co/mNMqyUUZGM

Jan 30, 2024 · 1 like · 5,268 followers View post →
Pasquale Minervini
@PMinervini · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Jan 4, 2025 · 6 shares · 9,364 followers View post →
Sharath Raparthy
@sharathraparthy · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Jan 5, 2025 · 6 shares · 1,532 followers View post →
Zhipeng Huang
@nopainkiller · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Jan 4, 2025 · 6 shares · 1,445 followers View post →

All mentions

Discovering Habituation in Smart Slime Moulds

Researchers demonstrate that the slime mould Physarum polycephalum can exhibit habituation, a form of learning typically associated with neural organisms. This groundbreaking discovery suggests non-neural organisms…

Ze Frank · Jan 31, 2023 3,904,862 views
Jitendra Kumar Sharma
@jkumarsharma998 · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Aug 5, 2025 · 6 shares · 1,324 followers View post →
Phillip J.K. Christoffersen
@philljkc · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Jan 18, 2025 · 6 shares · 497 followers View post →
Sharath Raparthy
@sharathraparthy · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Jan 5, 2025 · 6 shares · 1,532 followers View post →
Zhipeng Huang
@nopainkiller · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Jan 4, 2025 · 6 shares · 1,445 followers View post →
Jiri Fajtl
@ok1zjf · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Jan 4, 2025 · 6 shares · 118 followers View post →
Pasquale Minervini
@PMinervini · X

RT @_rockt: A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussut…

Jan 4, 2025 · 6 shares · 9,364 followers View post →
Tim Rocktäschel
@_rockt · X

A slime mold can solve what millions of steps of tabula-rasa deep reinforcement learning can't. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussutour, A., & Beekman, M. (2012). Slime mold uses an externalized spatial “memory” to navigate in complex environments. Proceedings of the National Academy https://t.co/ZRdSr0h5Sw

Jan 4, 2025 · 70 likes · 6 shares · 39,813 followers View post →
Umberto León Domínguez
@umbertoleon · X

El Slime Mold (fungi) tiene extended cognition https://t.co/s79GaaJTzZ https://t.co/mNMqyUUZGM

Jan 30, 2024 · 1 like · 5,268 followers View post →
Dios, que pereza ser yo
@JCHxD1 · X

RT @wildbehav: Os dejo por aquí unos papers sobre este fascinante moho que en realidad es una ameba #NingunHiloSinSuPaper https://t.co/2Z…

May 3, 2023 · 2 shares · 283 followers View post →
Jaminton
@Jaminton777 · X

RT @wildbehav: Os dejo por aquí unos papers sobre este fascinante moho que en realidad es una ameba #NingunHiloSinSuPaper https://t.co/2Z…

May 2, 2023 · 2 shares · 1,165 followers View post →
Mary WildBehav
@wildbehav · X

Os dejo por aquí unos papers sobre este fascinante moho que en realidad es una ameba #NingunHiloSinSuPaper https://t.co/2ZrCMukXg5 https://t.co/YxKr74e3LI https://t.co/OyrVdtdKKd https://t.co/WFitTz5Ryj https://t.co/GtIiICxsEV

May 2, 2023 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 11,346 followers View post →
ivacheung.com
@ivacheung.com · Bluesky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_GTIL7AECQ

Jan 31, 2023 View post →
NottingHillNapoleon
@N_H_Napoleon · X

Came across this great paper while doing some out-of-the-box research while coding a ConceptNet literal to metaphor translator. You don't necessarily need internal intelligence to come up with smart solutions. https://t.co/VII0bCE99g

Jan 30, 2023 · 40 followers View post →
Protonize
@TheProtShow · X

# How Can a Slime Mold Solve a Maze? The Physiology Course is Finding Out, 2017 https://t.co/nz5ZCknyTL _________________________ #Slime mold uses an externalized spatial “memory” to navigate in complex environments, 2012 https://t.co/Vy3i5iilqT

Jul 7, 2021 · 121 followers View post →
John Walling
@JohnKI7YRA · X

Slime mold uses an externalized spatial “memory” to navigate in complex environments https://t.co/eg2wzWrPUi I use the placement of objects as externalized memory, not just for spatial memory, but also for task memory.

Dec 8, 2020 · 268 followers View post →