Can mushrooms really talk? Study suggests fungi have a vocabulary of 50 words

Time of India

27-05-2025

For decades, the concept of communication has largely been reserved for humans, animals, and occasionally plants. From birdsong to bee dances, the idea that living organisms can share information is well-established.
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However, a groundbreaking study has opened the doors to a new realm of communication—one that takes place underground, in the hidden world of fungi. Until now, we've marveled at robotic chefs and AI-driven food technologies. But few could have imagined that mushrooms—yes, the same kind you might toss into your salad—could potentially "talk" to one another using a language-like system.
This might sound like science fiction, but recent research conducted by Professor Andrew Adamatzky from the University of the West of England challenges our understanding of intelligence in non-human life forms.
By analyzing the electrical signals passed through fungal networks called mycelium, Adamatzky found patterns that closely resemble the structure and complexity of human language. According to the study, these signal patterns can be grouped into "words" and may serve as a form of communication between fungi.
The findings, published in Royal Society Open Science, propose that mushrooms may not only be sentient in some form but could also possess a rudimentary vocabulary of up to 50 distinct "words."
The implications of such a discovery are immense, potentially redefining how we perceive intelligence, communication, and life itself in the natural world.
Do mushrooms have a language? 50 'words' found in fungal signals
At the heart of this discovery lies mycelium, a vast network of fungal threads that not only facilitate nutrient exchange but may also serve as a communication superhighway. Often likened to the internet for plants, mycelium connects various organisms across forest ecosystems.
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It is through this web that fungi transmit electrical impulses—signals that are now believed to carry complex information.
To explore these signals, Professor Adamatzky and his team monitored the electrical activity of four mushroom species:
Enoki (Flammulina velutipes)
Split gill (Schizophyllum commune)
Ghost fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis)
Caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps militaris)
Using a set of microelectrodes inserted into the mycelium, researchers recorded electrical spikes over several days. They then used computational models to analyze the data, identifying spike clusters that resembled word-like structures.
Remarkably, some of these patterns shared statistical properties with human language, including average word length and recurrence of certain "core" signals.
The research revealed that:
The fungi produced spike clusters resembling up to 50 distinct "words".
The average word length was 5.97 characters, compared to 4.8 characters in English.
The core vocabulary—the most frequently used signals—consisted of 15 to 20 recurring patterns.
Electrical activity increased when fungi encountered food sources or damage, suggesting the signals could indicate environmental status or alert other fungi.
This structured communication implies a level of complexity not previously attributed to fungi. While not equivalent to human language, the findings suggest that fungi might share information about resources, environmental conditions, or danger—fundamental aspects of any form of intelligent communication.
Mushroom communication: Fascinating insight or scientific overreach?
Despite the groundbreaking nature of the study, Professor Adamatzky himself remains cautious. He acknowledges that while the patterns resemble human speech statistically, there's no definitive evidence that fungi are conscious or possess language as we define it. 'I do not claim they are talking in the same way humans do,' Adamatzky stated. 'But there are lots of similarities in information processing.'
Skepticism is natural with a discovery this bold.
Some researchers argue that calling these electrical spikes "words" is misleading and anthropocentric. Fungal communication, they argue, could be a byproduct of basic biological processes, rather than deliberate messaging. Others believe the study is a significant first step, but caution that further peer-reviewed work is essential to validate these conclusions.
Fungi talk? Rethinking intelligence and consciousness
If fungi can indeed communicate using a vocabulary-like system, it challenges our traditional definitions of intelligence and consciousness. It also raises ethical and philosophical questions about how we interact with the natural world. Could forests be engaging in silent dialogues below our feet?
Understanding fungal communication could inspire new bio-mimetic technologies.
Electrical signal-based messaging systems in fungi might pave the way for environmentally sensitive AI, sustainable agriculture practices, and even new forms of computing modeled on biological substrates.
What comes next? Future research and exploration
The study has already prompted calls for deeper investigation into fungal intelligence and cross-species communication. Future research may include:
Real-time monitoring of fungal networks in natural ecosystems.
Exploring whether fungal signals influence plant behavior.
Decoding the "syntax" or order of fungal words.
Investigating potential responses to music, light, or human speech.
With thousands of mushroom species still unstudied in this context, the field of fungal linguistics is only just beginning.