What groundbreaking proof does the video by Dr. Dany Spencer Adams, a developmental biologist at Tufts University, provide that shows us the importance of electricity in life and intelligence. Electrical patterns that shape a developing tadpole coordinate where to put its eyes and grow all of its other features. Dr. Adams captured this developmental process of a tadpole on video, demonstrating the crucial role of bio-electric signals in guiding development.
This photo from the video shows an image of the "electric face" - dynamic patterns of membrane voltage visible on the surface of the developing frog embryo.
This discovery opens many possibilities for improving the future health of people, animals, and our environment. Previously, I thought patterns and fractals were solely responsible for the development of life in our universe, as these patterns are found everywhere in nature, animals, and humans. However, research from a team of developmental biologists at Tufts University, led by Professor Michael Levin*, shows the significant role electricity plays. Electric pathways and patterns dictate what, where, and how to grow, and when to stop. A shape will form according to the electrical pattern established before the actual development and growth of a tadpole. Isn’t this amazing? This principle likely applies not only to tadpoles but also to humans and other living beings, including animals, plants, and trees. Bio-electricity plays a crucial role in development but is one of many factors in development, such as DNA, genes, hormones, cell division, and others. In this blog, I will discuss new insights into bioelectricity and intelligence.
Healing processes start with bioelectric patterns
Researchers are cracking the code of these electrical patterns**, which means we might be able to heal diseases like cancer and trauma in the future and address environmental pollution. When our body heals from a wound, patterns of bio-electricity are responsible for the healing process. The same concept might apply to 'diseases' of our environment, such as pollution. I am thrilled, enthusiastic, and optimistic about the future possibilities for humans and our environment to become healthy again through bioelectricity. The way bioelectricity works and its promising results are very hopeful and give new (badly needed) possibilities and perspectives.
REM Sleep and bioelectricity
In my first blog, "Your Brain Likes to Move, Move It!", I write about how our brains enter the state of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Research shows electricity*** plays a significant role in this process. I am particularly interested in the possibilities of bio-electricity in this field because I suffered from severe depression in 2019. Depression comes with poor sleep routines and insomnia, although many symptoms of depression differ from person to person, almost everyone experiences insomnia. Many people, especially the youth, have been experiencing increased rates of depression, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Can bio-electricity help bring our brain into this valuable REM sleep, aiding in quicker recovery from depression or even preventing it? With the knowledge and potential of bioelectric methods, it is possible to develop entirely new ways of recovery by applying bioelectric medical techniques.
Video that shows time-lapse images of the "electric face" - dynamic patterns of membrane voltage visible on the surface of the developing frog embryo. Credit: Dany S. Adams, Ph.D., research associate professor in the Department of Biology in the Tufts School of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology; Laura N. Vandenberg, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biology in the Tufts School of Arts and Sciences
Switching ions on or off evokes electrical patterns
This would not involve applying electricity directly, as is done with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), but in a more refined and specific way using bioelectric signals. Developmental Biologist Professor Michael Levin explains in one of his videos that this is done by - more or less -switching ions on or off to evoke electrical patterns and reactions. We know that when a connection is made in the brain, an electric signal travels from one synapse to another, triggering a signal from the brain to another part of the body to create a specific action or reaction. What if we can manipulate these connections with bioelectricity to evoke REM sleep and improve sleep routines, helping to recover quicker from depression or even better preventing it?
Different levels of intelligence
The process of an electric signal travelling from one synapse to another is a form of intelligence. Similar processes are observed in entire ecosystems, where organisms support and help each other by exchanging nutrients. That's intelligence too, although not the same as brain function, electrical**** transportation of information is part of natural ecosystems too, similar to processes in our bodies and brains. Electrical signals play a role in plant and fungal communication. The symbiotic relationship and nutrient exchange between mycelium (fungal networks) and the plant world. This system involves the exchange of nutrients, water, and chemical signals, facilitating cooperation and mutual support among plants and fungi. Michael Levin explains in a video that it is not the question if intelligence exists in other lifeforms than humans, a way of looking at it is to acknowledge different levels of intelligence exist. The intelligence of a single cell differs from that of more complex lifeforms, but they both have the intelligence to be able to function the way they do.
Top image of the brain part of the cortex, bottom cosmic web pattern. Image by Franco Vazza.
The universe, a giant brain?
Another new perspective on intelligence comes from astrophysicist Franco Vazza and neurosurgeon Alberto Feletti published in New Scientist 25 June 2024, who are childhood friends who compared the structure of the universe with the composition of the brain. Vazza compared neurons in the brain's cortex with the cosmic web, the pattern of matter distribution across the universe. He found a surprising level of similarity: despite the size difference, the two patterns overlap significantly. For about five years I have been photographing patterns and structures and I wasn't surprised by the similarity between the patterns of our brains and that of the universe. The patterns seen by Franco Vaza also resemble the pattern of crumpled paper, the venation pattern of leaves, old city street patterns, and patterns formed by water on the beach.
From my days at the Design Academy, I remember the Bauhaus principle that "form follows function." I believe the specific forms of patterns in nature are determined by their function. Our brains, for instance, have the function of thinking, requiring a network pattern that can process information efficiently and send out signals quickly. This might explain why come across similar patterns. Think of the arborization of the branches of a tree as similar to the 'branching' of plant roots, meandering rivers and riverdelta's.
Perhaps our brains work similarly to the universe. Can we consider the universe a 'big brain' because of its similar wiring? If so, artificial intelligence is nothing compared to this giant brain of the universe. Whether the universe is conscious or not, I don't know, but it certainly displays intelligence. Various life forms, including plants, animals, and humans, possess intelligence at different levels. The universe may exhibit the highest form of intelligence due to its complex and extensive structure. Because the universe is wired, we should be able to connect with it, tapping into its flow of energy to feel whole, happy, and balanced. Depression often results in feeling blocked and disconnected from this natural flow of energy.
My future work will aim to explore the concept of development and regeneration by bioelectricity further, helping me and others to understand more of the potential of bioelectricity to heal a depressed brain or to regenerate a polluted environment.
One thing I know for sure is when I draw and paint, I feel connected and happy.
I don’t know why, but it works for me :-)
* Professor Michael Levin is a prominent developmental biologist who currently holds the title of "Vannevar Bush Professor" at Tufts University. He is also the director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts, where he researches bioelectricity and its role in the regulation of development, regeneration, and pattern formation in biological systems.
** The role of Electrical patterns in Development and Growth: Research has demonstrated the importance of electrical signals in guiding developmental processes. Studies have shown that bio-electric gradients and patterns play crucial roles in determining cell behaviour, tissue organization, and regeneration. For example, the work of Michael Levin and his team at Tufts University has shown how electrical signals provide a blueprint for shaping anatomical structures during embryonic development. Their research has highlighted the significance of endogenous bioelectric circuits in orchestrating cellular and molecular processes (Levin, 2019).
*** Electricity in Brain Function and Sleep: There is evidence to suggest that electrical activity in the brain, including during REM sleep, is essential for various cognitive processes and mental health. Electroencephalography (EEG) studies have revealed distinct patterns of brain activity during different stages of sleep, including REM sleep. Alterations in these patterns have been associated with various sleep disorders, including depression and insomnia (Hobson et al., 2000). Additionally, research in the field of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) has explored the therapeutic potential of modulating brain activity using electrical currents to improve sleep quality and alleviate symptoms of depression (Kekic et al., 2016). These studies give compelling evidence about the effect of electricity playing a fundamental role in biological processes
**** Plants use electrical signals to respond to environmental stimuli, and these signals can influence interactions with fungi. Electrical signalling within plants and fungi can contribute to the overall communication and functioning of this network. Plants maintain electrochemical gradients across their cell membranes. These gradients are crucial for nutrient uptake, cell elongation, and various metabolic processes. For example, the movement of ions such as potassium and calcium across membranes helps regulate cell growth and division. Similar to nerve cells in animals, plants generate action potentials—rapid changes in membrane potential that travel along plant tissues. These electrical signals can coordinate activities such as the opening and closing of pores on leaf surfaces and responses to mechanical stimuli.
Michael Levin's Research on Bioelectricity in Development: Michael Levin and his team at Tufts University have conducted extensive research on the role of bioelectric signals in development and regeneration. Their studies show how bioelectric gradients serve as blueprints for shaping anatomical structures during embryonic development. Key publications include:
Levin, M. (2019). "Bioelectric signalling: Reprogramming cells and tissue patterning via endogenous voltage gradients." Current Biology, 29(14), R733-R737. This paper discusses the role of bioelectric signals in development and regeneration.
Electroencephalography (EEG) Studies on Brain Activity and Sleep:
Hobson, J. A., Pace-Schott, E. F., & Stickgold, R. (2000). "Dreaming and the brain: Toward a cognitive neuroscience of conscious states." Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 23(6), 793-842. This study examines the role of electrical activity in the brain during different stages of sleep, including REM sleep, and its implications for cognitive processes and mental health.
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) and Mental Health:
Kekic, M., Boysen, E., Campbell, I. C., & Schmidt, U. (2016). "A systematic review of the clinical efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in psychiatric disorders." Journal of Psychiatric Research, 74, 70-86. This review explores the therapeutic potential of transcranial electrical stimulation in improving sleep quality and alleviating symptoms of depression.
Bioelectric Signaling in Wound Healing and Regeneration:
McCaig, C. D., Rajnicek, A. M., Song, B., & Zhao, M. (2005). "Controlling cell behaviour electrically: Current views and future potential." Physiological Reviews, 85(3), 943-978. This review highlights the role of electrical signals in wound healing and tissue regeneration, emphasizing the potential for bioelectric interventions in medical treatments.
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