Octopus Mind Reading: Science Is Getting Close

Octopuses are fascinating creatures that have captured human interest and imagination for centuries. Not only do they possess unique physical traits such as blue blood, instant camouflage, and nine brains, but they also possess remarkable intelligence, which has made them a popular subject of study for marine biologists and neuroscientists.

Research has shown that octopuses are capable of unscrewing jars and navigating mazes, which is made possible by their cognitive abilities, memory, and observational learning. Despite their remarkable intelligence, octopuses are also known for their impish tendencies, which include stealing fish from nearby tanks and punching fish for no apparent reason.

Scientists have been studying the brains of octopuses to understand how their unique structure enables their complex behavior. Until recently, it was challenging to study the brain waves of wild or freely moving octopuses. However, a study by researchers from the University of Naples Federico II in Italy and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Japan, among others, tracked and monitored three captive but freely moving octopuses, analyzing their brain waves for the first time. The researchers found a type of brain wave never before seen, along with brain waves that may be similar to some seen in human brains, possibly providing hints about the evolution of intelligence.

Octopuses are cunning cephalopods, with each arm having its own "brain." Each octopus arm has approximately 10,000 neurons dedicated to sensing its surroundings. They are also the only invertebrates besides a few insects to use tools, such as compressing shells around their bodies as a type of proto-armor and camouflage against predators. Octopuses can also mimic human movement by walking bipedally, lifting six of their legs like a skirt, and scooting along the ocean floor.

Reading an octopus's brain is no easy task, as they are nearly impossible to track in the wild. Therefore, researchers turn to captive octopuses to study their brains. However, studying captive octopuses presents its own set of challenges. Researchers have developed a new engineering solution, which involves implanting recording devices inside the octopus's brain. This approach was used in the 2023 study mentioned earlier, where recording devices were implanted into the upper head of three captive tropical octopuses between their eyes.

The electrodes were implanted into an area of the octopus's brain called the vertical lobe and median superior frontal lobe, which is the most accessible area and considered important to control learning and memory processes. The octopuses were anesthetized during their surgeries and spent the next 12 hours recovering, monitored in their tanks. They were the first octopuses to be studied in real time. Although the researchers did not have the octopuses complete any brain-teasing activities during the next 12 hours of study, they did find some interesting brain activity in their test subjects.

Overall, the study of octopuses and their remarkable intelligence is ongoing. Despite the challenges of studying these animals, researchers continue to make strides in understanding their unique behavior and brain structure. Octopuses are a testament to the incredible diversity and complexity of life on Earth, and their study has the potential to shed light on the evolution of intelligence and cognition.