Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A March 2021 PMID 33619174

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network.

Mirna Kramar, Karen Alim

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Mentions

112

Peak: 15 in Mar 2021

across 7 sources since Feb 2021

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4,951,720

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160,786

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4,847,294

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Feb 2021 – May 2025

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions predominantly praise the study for demonstrating that organisms like slime molds can 'encode' memory through their physical network structures, with posts emphasizing the groundbreaking nature of such non-neural memory. Words like 'fascinating,' 'cool,' and phrases such as 'memory without a nervous system' reflect excitement and curiosity, showcasing a collective appreciation and recognition of the research's potential impact on biology and system design.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions highlight support for the idea that organisms can encode memory through physical structures without nervous systems, emphasizing the novelty and significance of this research.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high curiosity, with many referencing exciting aspects like 'memory without a nervous system' and calling the study 'cool' or 'fascinating,' indicating strong engagement with the topic.

EngagementHigh engagement

Several posts reference specific mechanisms, mention upcoming discussions, or share links to events, demonstrating deep interest and active involvement.

ImpactModerate impact

While many recognize the potential for broad biological and bioinspired applications, some posts suggest the work could have significant implications for understanding biological memory and network design, though the perceived impact is slightly more mode

Abstract in brief

The study explores how simple organisms like slime molds encode environmental information, specifically the location of nutrients, through visual changes in their tubular network body plan.
The slime mold's network adjusts by thickening tubes near nutrients and shrinking others, effectively "remembering" the nutrient location through this hierarchy of tube diameters, driven by transported softening agents.
This process demonstrates a flow network-based form of associative memory, providing insight into how living organisms adapt and potentially inspiring bioinspired design in network systems.]

Read the full abstract

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

Habituation Insights: Learning in Slime Molds

This video explores the capabilities of slime molds, specifically Physarum polycephalum, to exhibit habituation—a learning process seen in neural organisms. Discover how these remarkable creatures respond to repeated…

TrueFactsEducational · Feb 4, 2023 939,818 views

Fascinating Learning Abilities of Physarum Polycephalum in Space Exploration

Ni animal ni végétal ni champignon le Blob fait preuve de capacités étonnantes telles que l'apprentissage. This video explores five surprising facts about Physarum polycephalum, a unicellular organism capable of memory…

NeuroCurieux · Mar 30, 2021 2,615 views

Software Dev

@swdevservice · X

@ZyMazza Non-neural memory is already a proven concept in other much simpler life forms; surely the human heart is more complex than a slime mold! https://t.co/2Gb5YZ67YD

May 30, 2025 · 1 like · 552 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

Not only do slime moulds "encode" information externally, their physical structure is also used: pre-existing nutrient tube "highways" help determine the basis of what direction to search for food. https://t.co/JxPvndouux https://t.co/dP4QGi066J

Jan 30, 2023 · 41 followers View post →

Ben Larson

@BEuplotes · X

continued... Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network: https://t.co/xZaqUM4CfL Mechanism of signal propagation in Physarum polycephalum: https://t.co/ZZ1u7uZ1SM 11/n

Dec 13, 2022 · 1 like · 1,386 followers View post →

GrumpyViking

@3Vikings1 · X

Not a single neuron and yet there is memory. https://t.co/04cw4sGUDR

Aug 23, 2022 · 421 followers View post →

Physics of Life (IC)

@ICPhysicsofLife · X

Jul 22, 2022 · 3 likes · 749 followers View post →

ISOP

@protistologists · X

Oct 10, 2021 · 5 likes · 5,091 followers View post →

Biosciences @ Ontario Tech University

@Bio_OntarioTech · X

RT @protistologists: Smart slime – memory without a nervous system https://t.co/3TKHoLDPyx #protists #slimemolds @_MicroBites Encoding me…

Sep 20, 2021 · 1 share · 260 followers View post →

ISOP

@protistologists · X

Sep 20, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 5,091 followers View post →

Ricardo Lebrón, Ph.D.

@rlebron_bioinfo · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network https://t.co/fYDIzbNojg

Jul 21, 2021 · 1,562 followers View post →

Isatou Sarr

@IsatouSarr4 · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network https://t.co/bzaMJixJoo

May 6, 2021 · 1 like · 34 followers View post →

Matthias C. Rillig

@mrillig · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network Kramar & Alim @PNASNews #slimemolds #network #memory #ecology https://t.co/B5VolVvPfd

Apr 6, 2021 · 2 likes · 14,798 followers View post →

gavin woodruff

@weird_worms · X

! Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network https://t.co/Veb12C4gnn

Mar 22, 2021 · 687 followers View post →

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@__femb0t · X

RT @Dragonmaurizio: Info: Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network. https://t.co/UVNarIS3d9

Mar 19, 2021 · 2 shares · 20,824 followers View post →

MetaCognized

@MetaCognized · X

RT @Dragonmaurizio: Info: Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network. https://t.co/UVNarIS3d9

Mar 19, 2021 · 2 shares · 312 followers View post →

void angel

@egregirls · X

RT @Dragonmaurizio: Info: Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network. https://t.co/UVNarIS3d9

Mar 19, 2021 · 2 shares · 10,549 followers View post →

nameless star

@ciphersbane · X

RT @Dragonmaurizio: Info: Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network. https://t.co/UVNarIS3d9

Mar 19, 2021 · 2 shares · 2,410 followers View post →

Maurizio Iβλἄ

@Dragonmaurizio · X

Info: Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network. https://t.co/UVNarIS3d9

Mar 19, 2021 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 6,295 followers View post →

adrija adhikary

@adrija_adhikary · X

RT @ClubBiome: How do brainless organisms remember!? We'll discuss this cool paper titled 'Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of li…

Mar 16, 2021 · 4 shares · 230 followers View post →

Alexis Shih

@shihalexis · X

RT @ClubBiome: How do brainless organisms remember!? We'll discuss this cool paper titled 'Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of li…

Mar 16, 2021 · 4 shares · 103 followers View post →

Omkar Sahu

@omkarsahu_007 · X

RT @ClubBiome: How do brainless organisms remember!? We'll discuss this cool paper titled 'Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of li…

Mar 16, 2021 · 4 shares · 287 followers View post →

Sumit Garai

@SumitGarai9 · X

RT @ClubBiome: How do brainless organisms remember!? We'll discuss this cool paper titled 'Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of li…

Mar 16, 2021 · 4 shares · 417 followers View post →

Biome - The Journal Club

@ClubBiome · X

Mar 16, 2021 · 8 likes · 4 shares · 183 followers View post →

Alessio Cardillo

@a_cardillo · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network #pnas https://t.co/UfCwR7D87X

Mar 15, 2021 · 518 followers View post →

BlackPhysicists

@BlackPhysicists · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network [Biophysics and Computational Biology] https://t.co/PKV3M37Rlc #biophysics https://t.co/fyycGeID7T

Mar 13, 2021 · 1 like · 25,134 followers View post →

#basalcognition

@basalcognition · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network https://t.co/0JRC0kPyqH

Mar 3, 2021 · 314 followers View post →

Erik Hom

@erikfyhom · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network https://t.co/8a75LT24uI

Feb 27, 2021 · 1 like · 682 followers View post →

Prof. Biology

@ResearchBiology · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network: https://t.co/apEgEWXkog

Feb 25, 2021 · 597 followers View post →

Jeanne Bark

@marc_herb · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network https://t.co/0Ytd42O38T

Feb 25, 2021 · 642 followers View post →

AJ Beach

@aj_beach_ · X

RT @1Biotensegrity: “memory about nutrient location is encoded in the morphology of the network-shaped organism” = memory without a nervous…

Feb 24, 2021 · 2 shares · 259 followers View post →

Susan Lowell de Solórzano

@1Biotensegrity · X

Feb 24, 2021 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 2,016 followers View post →

Marco Manca

@markomanka · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network https://t.co/8Eao4ZCBeg

Feb 24, 2021 · 1,580 followers View post →

micropapers

@micro_papers · X

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network https://t.co/vLX6uqFxJ9

Feb 23, 2021 · 332 followers View post →

Encoding memory in tube diameter hierarchy of living flow network.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Discovering Habituation in Smart Slime Moulds

Habituation Insights: Learning in Slime Molds

Fascinating Learning Abilities of Physarum Polycephalum in Space Exploration