The extraordinary claim that plants possess a form of consciousness has sparked intense debate for decades, thanks in large part to the pioneering work of Cleve Backster, an American polygraph expert who stumbled upon what he termed "primary perception" in 1966.
Backster's initial experiment, conducted in February of that year, was simple: measuring the time it took for water to travel from the roots to the leaves of a dracaena cane plant. He attached polygraph electrodes to the plant's leaves, which were typically used to measure galvanic skin response in humans. The readings did not align with expected hydration patterns – instead, they began to resemble those associated with human emotional states.
Intrigued by the unexpected findings, Backster continued his research, attempting to provoke reactions from the plant. He first tried dipping a leaf into warm coffee but saw no significant response. However, when he contemplated burning the leaf, the polygraph pen "went wild," according to Backster. He claimed this was due to the plant's stress response to his thoughts of inflicting harm.
Similar reactions were reported when brine shrimp were dropped into boiling water, suggesting that the plant was aware of and reacting to the distress of other living organisms. This led Backster to theorise that "primary perception" was a fundamental, non-sensory awareness present in all living things. His work gained significant attention, appearing in the International Journal of Parapsychology in 1968 and featured prominently in Tomkins' and Bird's book 'The Secret Life of Plants' three years later.
Backster expanded his research to include yoghurt bacteria, eggs, and human sperm, claiming that these too demonstrated measurable "primary perception." His findings resonated with various spiritual and New Age philosophies, which propose a universal awareness across all living organisms. However, the mainstream scientific community has been sceptical, citing the lack of repeatability and rigorous control experiments as major concerns.
Critics argue that polygraph readings could be attributed to environmental factors or even Backster's own telekinetic abilities, highlighting the inherent unreliability of some parapsychological claims. Despite these criticisms, Backster remains a prominent figure in the field of primary perception research, with his work continuing to inspire discussion and investigation decades after its inception.