Chapter 1
The ultimate botanical drama queen
Chapter 2
The plant that remembers
Chapter 3
Global roots and shy legends
Chapter 4
Sleep, siblings, and cyborgs
YOUR GOAL
Master of The dramatic life of the sensitive plant
Ch 2 · The plant that remembers
artiteacher The Sensitive Plant
I don't have a brain, but I still remember that harmless little drop!
artiteacher Shaking habituated Mimosa pudica sideways triggered immediate folding, proving they remember safe drops but still defend against new
artiteacher A sensitive plant extends its delicate green leaves inside a quiet laboratory.
Fun Fact
Plant memory: Sensitive plants can remember that a harmless drop is safe for up to twenty-eight days.
Glossary
habituation (noun)
The diminishing of a physiological or behavioral response to a repeated stimulus. In 2014, Monica Gagliano demonstrated this process in sensitive plants by repeatedly dropping them without harm.
The diminishing of a physiological or behavioral response to a repeated stimulus. In 2014, Monica Gagliano demonstrated this process in sensitive plants by repeatedly dropping them without harm.
Quiz
What is the scientific term for a plant getting used to a harmless stimulus and ignoring it, as seen in the drop tests?
Quiz
What cellular signaling ion is believed to help the brainless sensitive plant store memories?
Quiz
Why did researchers shake the sensitive plants sideways after they stopped reacting to being dropped?
Quiz
How many consecutive drops did it take for the sensitive plants to realize the fall was harmless and stop folding?
Quiz
By what percentage does the sensitive plant's photosynthetic rate drop when its leaves are folded shut?
Quiz
In Monica Gagliano's study, which group of sensitive plants learned to ignore the harmless drops faster?
Quiz
For how many days did the trained sensitive plants remember that dropping was harmless in the 2014 study?
Quiz
In Monica Gagliano's 2014 study, from what height were the sensitive plants dropped to test their learning?