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Electrical Response of Fungi to Changing Moisture Content

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Fungal Machines

Part of the book series: Emergence, Complexity and Computation ((ECC,volume 47))

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Abstract

Mycelium-bound composites are potential alternatives to conventional materials for a variety of applications, including thermal and acoustic building panels and product packaging. If the reactions of live mycelium to environmental conditions and stimuli are taken into account, it is possible to create functioning fungal materials. Thus, active building components, sensory wearables, etc. might be created. This research describes the electrical sensitivity of fungus to changes in the moisture content of a mycelium-bound composite. Trains of electrical spikes initiate spontaneously in fresh mycelium-bound composites with a moisture content between \(\sim \)95 and \(\sim \)65%, and between \(\sim \)15 and \(\sim \)5% when partially dried. When the surfaces of mycelium-bound composites were partially or totally encased with an impermeable layer, increased electrical activity was observed. In fresh mycelium-bound composites, electrical spikes were seen both spontaneously and when induced by water droplets on the surface. Also explored is the link between electrical activity and electrode depth. Future designs of smart buildings, wearables, fungi-based sensors, and unconventional computer systems may benefit from fungi configurations and biofabrication flexibility.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    https://mycelia.be/shop/m9726-ganoderma-resinaceum/

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Tempcon Instrumentation Ltd for guidance on moisture probe HOBO EC-5 and data logger station HOBO H21.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unconventional Computing Laboratory, UWE, Bristol, UK

    Neil Phillips & Andrew Adamatzky

  2. Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology, CSIC-UPV, Catalonia, Spain

    Antoni Gandia

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  1. Neil Phillips
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  2. Antoni Gandia
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  3. Andrew Adamatzky
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Correspondence to Neil Phillips .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unconventional Computing Laboratory, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

    Andrew Adamatzky

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Phillips, N., Gandia, A., Adamatzky, A. (2023). Electrical Response of Fungi to Changing Moisture Content. In: Adamatzky, A. (eds) Fungal Machines. Emergence, Complexity and Computation, vol 47. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38336-6_12

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