Scientists have discovered that plants can count

The results of the study were published in the journal Cognitive Science.

At the centre of the study was the plant Mimosa pudica, known for its leaves that fold up when touched.

The scientists decided to test whether mimosa can respond not only to individual stimuli, but also to repeated events.

Details

In the experiment, the plants were placed in conditions of alternating light and darkness. First, they went through several identical cycles:

• 12 hours of darkness
• 12 hours of light.

After several repetitions, the plants began to move their leaves more vigorously before the supposed appearance of light, as if waiting for dawn.

But when the lights were never switched on one day, the response disappeared. This showed that the plants could respond specifically to the number of cycles repeated, not just the internal biological clock.

Why it matters

Scientists believe that plants can process information in a more complex way than previously thought.

Until now, it was thought that abilities such as learning or memory were only possible in organisms with nervous systems. However, plants don't have neurons, and yet they can still exhibit learning-like behaviour.

This discovery could change ideas about how living organisms process information.

Background

The bashful mimosa has long been used in scientific experiments. Its leaves fold quickly when touched, and close at night and open again in the morning.

A new study suggests that plants can not only respond to stimuli, but also remember the sequence of events.

Source

Peter M. Vishton, Paige Bartosh, Can Mimosa pudica Plants Enumerate Light Exposure Events?, Cognitive Science (2025)