There was a fascinating study done on the memory of flatworms - a non-parasitic worm renowned for their regeneration abilities. Like many animals, starfish and lizards coming to mind, they have an incredible ability to regrow body parts lost to combat or accidents. A starfish, for example, will easily regrow a lost arm.
Human’s are capable of this to an extent as well. We don’t think of it often, but we are obviously able to regenerate broken bones or shallow wounds.
What makes the flatworm so remarkable though is their ability to regenerate their head, new brain and all, if they are ever so unlucky to lose their minds, so to speak.
Also interestingly, flatworms are capable of being trained. Researcher’s are able to train the worms to crawl towards light, something they hate, if they learn that there is often food waiting for them in the brightness.
The researcher wondered, naturally, what would happen if the worms were trained, then beheaded and allows to regenerate new brains? Would they still remember that there is food to be found in the light?
Unbelievably, the answer is yes. They remembered. The findings suggest that there may be something to memory beyond the boundary of our brain.
Quote
“Researchers at Tufts University have illustrated this in striking experiments using flatworms. Flatworms are well-studied model organisms because of their ability to regenerate. If the head of a flatworm is cut off, it sprouts another head, brain and all. Flatworms can also be trained. The researchers wondered whether, if they trained a flatworm to remember features of its environment and then cut off its head, it would retain the memory when it has grown a new head and brain. Remarkably, the answer is yes. The flatworms’ memory appeared to reside in a part of their body outside the brain. These experiments suggest that even within the body of brain-dependent animals, the flexible networks that underpin complex behaviors need not be limited to a small region inside the head.”
Connections
Develop understanding to remember better
Reference
Book: Entangled Life Author: Merlin Sheldrake Location: 1131