[Linkpost] “The Conscious Nematode: Exploring Hallmarks of Minimal Phenomenal Consciousness in Caenorhabditis Elegans” by Vasco Grilo🔸

This is a link post. This is a linkpost for The Conscious Nematode: Exploring Hallmarks of Minimal Phenomenal Consciousness in Caenorhabditis Elegans by Diego Becerra, Andrea Calixto, and Patricio Orio, which was originally published on the International Journal of Psychological Research in October 2023. Below are the abstract, summary of the evidence for consciousness in Caenorhabditis (C.) elegans, and my quick thoughts. Abstract While subcellular components of cognition and affectivity that involve the interaction between experience, environment, and physiology -such as learning, trauma, or emotion- are being identified, the physical mechanisms of phenomenal consciousness remain more elusive. We are interested in exploring whether ancient, simpler organisms such as nematodes have minimal consciousness. Is there something that feels like to be a worm? Or are worms blind machines? ‘Simpler’ models allow us to simultaneously extract data from multiple levels such as slow and fast neural dynamics, structural connectivity, molecular dynamics, behavior, decision making, etc., and thus, to test predictions of the current frameworks in dispute. In the present critical review, we summarize the current models of consciousness in order to reassess in light of the new evidence whether Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode with a nervous system composed of 302 neurons, has [...] ---Outline:(00:42) Abstract(01:49) Summary of the evidence for consciousness in Caenorhabditis elegans(02:19) My quick thoughts --- First published: December 5th, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Xhhm7GYA8xy6oLoY8/the-conscious-nematode-exploring-hallmarks-of-minimal Linkpost URL:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10723751/ --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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