Detection of electrical signals in fungal mycelia in response to external stimuli

Electrical signaling is a crucial mechanism for intercellular communication across diverse biological systems. Despite evidence of electrical activity in fungal mycelia, a standardized, reproducible method for detecting these signals is lacking. In this study, we developed a novel approach using printed circuit boards with embedded differential electrodes to record extracellular voltage fluctuations in mycelium. By incorporating a Faraday cage and short-time Fourier transform analysis, we minimized noise and extracted relevant frequency patterns. Our findings revealed electrical activity correlated with fungal growth that varied with biocide treatments. The results support the biological origin of these signals, suggesting a role in environmental adaptation. This study provides a robust framework for further exploration of fungal electrophysiology, with implications for understanding signaling mechanisms in mycelial networks.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
iScience
Published
2025-09-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.113484
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.75

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Detection of electrical signals in fungal mycelia in response to external stimuli

Patrick Chain, Markus Künzler, Pilar Junier, Julia M. Kelliher et al.
1 citations
iScience
Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
1.75
article

Detection of electrical signals in fungal mycelia in response to external stimuli

Patrick Chain, Markus Künzler, Pilar Junier, Julia M. Kelliher, Matteo Buffi, Guillaume Cailleau, Aaron Robinson, Saskia Bindschedler, Lorenzo Pirrami, Silvia Giangaspero, Valerio Foiada, Loïc Puthod, Daniel Oberson
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Electrical signaling is a crucial mechanism for intercellular communication across diverse biological systems. Despite evidence of electrical activity in fungal mycelia, a standardized, reproducible method for detecting these signals is lacking. In this study, we developed a novel approach using printed circuit boards with embedded differential electrodes to record extracellular voltage fluctuations in mycelium. By incorporating a Faraday cage and short-time Fourier transform analysis, we minimized noise and extracted relevant frequency patterns. Our findings revealed electrical activity correlated with fungal growth that varied with biocide treatments. The results support the biological origin of these signals, suggesting a role in environmental adaptation. This study provides a robust framework for further exploration of fungal electrophysiology, with implications for understanding signaling mechanisms in mycelial networks.

iScienceVol. 28(10)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (US), HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (CH), ETH Zurich (CH), Institute for Biomedical Engineering (CH), School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg (CH), Fribourg Development Agency (CH), University of Neuchâtel (CH)
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Biological and Environmental Research
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
1.75
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.