Revealing synchrony in pea plants using wavelet coherence analysis

In this study, we apply Wavelet Transform Coherence (WTC) analysis-a time-frequency method commonly used in human and animal synchrony research-to examine whether co-potted pea plant dyads exhibit synchronized movement during tendril approach to intertwine. This behaviour allows plants to form braided structures, providing mutual support in the absence of external scaffolds. The results reveal significant coherence, particularly pronounced at the beginning and at the end of the movement sequence. However, this effect varies across dyads, displaying a certain degree of heterogeneity in the coherence patterns. Overall, the analyses indicate that plant movements are temporally structured and non-random; nonetheless, the substantial inter-dyad variability prevents this outcome from being generalized unequivocally. We propose that such synchrony may emerge from embodied mechanisms, including mechanical feedback and chemical signalling. This work extends the application of WTC analysis to plant systems and challenges the assumption that complex coordination requires neural substrates, highlighting the role of distributed, non-neural processes in facilitating cooperative behaviour among living organisms.