Bacterial brains: How bacteria use electrochemical potentials to solve complex problems.

Abstract

Following our discovery of biofilm action potentials, we uncovered that bacteria use electrochemical potential to orchestrate various stress responses at both the single cell and community levels. These discoveries have revealed a surprising similarity between bacteria and neurons. In my talk, I will present our recent findings that show how even bacterial spores residing in an extreme dormant state use electrochemical potential to integrate extracellular signals over time in order to make an informed decision about returning to life.