Protozoa, which are single-celled organisms, display lower levels of intelligence. Those which possess cilia can retreat from unpleasantness, advance upon food, and dodge obstructions even though they do not possess a nervous system.⁴⁶

A single-celled, trumpet-shaped aquatic animal, the stenter, ordinarily lives with the mouthpiece of its trumpet anchored to a water plant or other stable object. If the stenter is disturbed by some external stimulus such as a jet of water, the organism will twist or bend on its anchor to avoid the jet. If this disturbance is repeated a number of times, the organism will detach its grip and seek a new location.⁴⁷

Decades ago, the zoologist Oswald Kroh found that the unicellular amoeba displayed "determinacy of behavior on the basis of individual conditions," an impression of spontaneity, and ability to orient itself to various environmental stimuli. Kroh attributed "genuine mental accomplishments" to the amoeba, while yet indicating that it was still "a long way from any sort of consciousness.".⁴⁸

Although many informed scientists have long been able to accept the inherent intelligence manifested throughout the animal world, it has only been more recently acknowledged that a parallel intelligence is present in the plant kingdom. It is considerably more primitive, but nevertheless exists.

Any organism which is capable of communication with another organism is displaying evidence of intelligence. Plants appear to be able to communicate in ways yet to be understood by humankind. A Romanian scientist, Eugene Celan, found that when he added a toxic agent to the water of one plant, another control plant in a separate container manifested parallel reactions, such as a synchronous change in temperature. And it would appear that infection or chemical injury to a plant can also be communicated to a physically isolated cell.⁴⁹

Many of the same molecules which are necessary for the operation of intelligence within animal forms are also found within plant life. For example, various neurotransmitters found in human and other animal brains, such as acetylcholine, serotonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, have been found to be involved in various plant responses.⁵⁰

Plants in general display many types of behavior that reflect the presence of intelligence, a few of which are listed below. The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that will suddenly close its petals and trap an insect. It will hold onto it and digest it, deriving nutrients from it.⁵¹...Many plants fold or lower their leaves at night or during cloudy weather, then reopen or raise them when light returns, as a protection or as a mechanism of energy and water conservation.⁵²...Even very simple plants such as the flagellate alga Euglena are phototatic. They will move up and down in the mud where they live, taking advantage of daylight and photosynthesis, and retreat downward at night.⁵³

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