Decapitated body intelligence (DBI) in cricketGryllodes sigillatus

Background intelligence is a highly complex problem. The decapitated insect exhibits various behaviors, indicating that they may have intelligence. Recent studies have reported organoid intelligence (OI) that lab-grown organoids also possess intelligence. This study investigated the response of decapitated crickets to different chemical stimuli to determine whether decapitated crickets have intelligence. Methods We used deionized water, NaCl, sucrose, and sodium hypochlorite to stimulate the front legs of the decapitated crickets and lesion the T1-T2 nerve connection of the thoracic ganglia. The behavioral response types of their forelegs were recorded. Reaction time, incidence rate, and total number of responses were calculated and analyzed. Results The decapitated crickets exhibit four types of responses: leg extension, leg withdrawal, leg lift, and jump. The reaction time and incidence rate varied depending on the type and concentration of the stimulant solution. The total number of responses gradually increased with deionized water, NaCl, sucrose, and sodium hypochlorite. The lesion experiments further revealed that the only T1 thoracic ganglion can control stimulating behavior. Conclusion The decapitated crickets possess the intelligence of perceiving stimuli and taking corresponding action. We called it decapitated body intelligence (DBI) or extrabrain intelligence (EI), which suggests that intelligence is not localized exclusively in the brain but also resides in insect ganglia. This finding opens up new ideas and avenues for the study of intelligence and the brain.