Unlike vertebrates, octopuses have a soft body and do not have a skull on which to attach a recording device.
Scientists used small and lightdata loggers that were originally developed to track the brain activity of birds during flight. The devices have been modified to be waterproof and small enough to fit under the skin of octopuses. The sensors were powered by a battery that allowed up to 12 hours of continuous data recording.
Octopuses have eight powerful and very flexible "arms"that can reach anywhere on the body. If you attach wires to these animals, they will immediately come off, so we needed a way to make the equipment completely inaccessible by placing it under the skin.
Tamar Gutnik, study co-author
During the research, biologists operatedthree octopuses Octopus cyanea. A brain wave recorder was implanted into the cavity of the muscular wall of the mantle, and electrodes were implanted into the vertical and middle superior frontal lobes of the animal's brain. After surgery, the octopuses were returned to their home aquarium and monitored via video. After five minutes, the octopuses recovered and spent the next 12 hours sleeping, eating and moving around their tank while their brain activity was recorded.
Recording the brain activity of octopuses. Video: OIST
By comparing the video recording data with the collecteddata on brain activity, the researchers identified several different patterns. Some of them were similar in size and shape to those observed in mammals, others were very long, slow oscillations that had not previously been described.
If we want to understand how the brain works,Octopuses are the perfect animal to compare to mammals. They have large brains, a surprisingly unique body, and advanced cognitive abilities that were formed in a completely different way than in vertebrates.
Tamar Gutnik, study co-author
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