Tufts Professor Michael Levin Challenges Brain-Centric Intelligence in New 'Inner Cosmos' Episode

Neuroscientist and author David Eagleman recently hosted Michael Levin, a distinguished professor of developmental and synthetic biology at Tufts University, on his "Inner Cosmos" podcast, sparking a profound discussion on the nature of intelligence. The episode, titled "Might we be surrounded with undetected minds?", delves into the provocative idea that cognitive capabilities extend far beyond the confines of the brain, permeating various biological systems. As Eagleman stated in a recent social media post, > "Might we be surrounded with undetected minds?"

Professor Levin's research at Tufts challenges conventional neuroscience by proposing a "scale-free" definition of intelligence. His work indicates that problem-solving, adaptation, and goal-directed behaviors are not exclusive to organisms with complex nervous systems but are inherent properties of biological matter at multiple levels. This perspective suggests that even individual cells, tissues, and organs exhibit a form of intelligence, capable of working towards specific objectives and adapting to novel circumstances.

A key aspect of Levin's argument involves "morphogenesis," the biological process by which organisms develop their shape. He highlights how cells collectively "know" what to build and can ingeniously correct errors or adapt to perturbations, demonstrating a collective intelligence without central orchestration. Examples from his lab include "xenobots" and "anthrobots"—living constructs made from frog and human cells, respectively—which exhibit unexpected behaviors and problem-solving abilities despite lacking a brain.

The implications of this expanded view of intelligence are far-reaching, influencing fields from biology to artificial intelligence and ethics. If intelligence is a pervasive, goal-seeking capacity rather than a brain-dependent phenomenon, it prompts a re-evaluation of how we understand life, development, and even the potential for future AI systems. This discussion on the "Inner Cosmos" podcast encourages a shift from "mind blindness" to recognizing the diverse forms of cognition that may exist all around us, urging a deeper ethical consideration for non-traditional forms of agency.

The episode underscores a fundamental re-framing of what it means to be alive and intelligent, suggesting that the universe is far more "mind-full" than previously assumed. It posits that the boundary between mind and matter is more fluid, potentially leading to significant updates in scientific understanding and our intuitions about the world.