Revealing synchrony in pea plants using wavelet coherence analysis

For the first time, Wavelet Transform Coherence (WTC), a powerful method widely used to study brain oscillations, human coordination, and animal synchrony, has been applied to plants. In their new article published in Scientific Reports by Nature, Bianca Bonato and colleagues reveal that pea plants grown in pairs show time-specific synchronization in their rhythmic circumnutating movements, especially when approaching and intertwining their tendrils.
This discovery demonstrates that WTC, far from being limited to neuroscience or behavioural studies in animals, can also uncover the hidden dynamics of plant life. The results highlight that plant movements are not random, but temporally structured and coordinated, despite the absence of a nervous system. Such synchrony may emerge from embodied mechanisms, including mechanical feedback, chemical signaling, or root and light-based interactions.
By extending WTC analysis to plants, this study not only uncovers new aspects of cooperative growth in climbing species but also challenges the assumption that complex coordination requires neural substrates. Instead, it points to universal principles of synchrony that may cut across biological systems, from humans to plants.

Bonato, B., Simonetti, V. & Castiello, U. Revealing synchrony in pea plants using wavelet coherence analysis. Sci Rep 15, 36226 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-20198-0

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-025-20198-0?utm_source=...