The nine-armed octopus and the oddities of the cephalopod nervous system
a year ago
- #cephalopod
- #neuroscience
- #octopus
- Octopuses are highly intelligent and capable of recognizing faces, solving puzzles, and learning behaviors.
- They have a complex nervous system with about 500 million neurons, similar to dogs, but decentralized.
- 66% of their neurons are located in their arms, allowing semi-independent processing and movement.
- Each arm can function like a 'mini-brain,' processing sensory input and executing behaviors without direct brain commands.
- Decentralization helps octopuses adapt to injuries, as seen in a nine-armed Octopus vulgaris observed in Spain.
- Octopus arms can predict movement type within 100 milliseconds without central brain involvement, showcasing unprecedented autonomy.