The deceptively simple planarian worm has recently shown how cool they really are by regenerating their decapitated heads – complete with memories.

The deceptively simple planarian worm has shown how cool they really are by regenerating their decapitated heads – complete with memories.

A research group at Tufts University recently put the worms’ legendary regenerative powers to the test by seeing how long it would take them to relearn things following the head loss and re-growth.

To do so, prior to the beheading, they trained a group to brave a bright light to reach their food source.

Planarians really, really despise bright, open spaces and the researchers had to patiently train them to locate their food.

Then they cut off their heads. After the heads grew back, the exercise started up again.

To the scientists’ surprise, the worms took very little urging to conquer their fears and embrace the rewards being offered in an illuminated petri dish.

Possible explanations include that they store memories elsewhere and that initial lessons somehow altered their nervous systems.

The planarians’ other great claim to fame is that if cut in half, each piece will undergo a complete renewal, resulting in two worms.