Mushroom Speech

It has been known for some time that hyphae, the leading ends of the mycelial mass, produce electrical signals that travel back through the mass. A scientist at the University of West England is now claiming that these “spiking events” or rhythmical electrical pulses “bear a striking structural similarity to human speech.” The study argues that mycelium uses “words” to communicate with itself. This speech is theorized to “maintain the fungi’s integrity—analogous to wolves howling to maintain the integrity of the pack,” while also transmitting information about the surrounding environment. Mycelium Teleology notes human speech likewise includes these “spiking events” used to maintain the integrity of the social. This is what humans say to register their existence. Roman Jacobson refers to this as the phatic function of language—manifestos, graffiti, and baby talk are prime examples. This speech says in effect: “I am here. Are you there?” If we pan out to planet scale one might conclude that this together-with mode is the principle mode of any language; birdsong included; it says “Hey! Are you listening?” The astonishing fact of mycelium’s articulated thought implies that its speech may be the oldest and first soliloquy; an original logos.