What distinguishes the brains of octopuses from those of other animals? Octopuses and their relatives (cuttlefish and squid) have acquired far larger nerve systems and cognitive complexity than other invertebrates.
However, the fact that these aquatic critters have several brains is maybe more important. The octopus, for example, exhibits incredible intelligence despite having an entirely different biological makeup. A primary brain is placed between the eyes, and smaller "mini-brains" are located at the base of each of their eight tentacles. Octopuses have nine brains in all, and they utilize them extremely well. The bulk of neurons in an octopus's arms are found in its arms, which can taste, touch, and control basic motions independently of the brain.
The central brain contains approximately 180 million of the 500 million neurons found in an octopus. Each of its eight arms, or tentacles, has about 40 million neurons in each of its ganglia. As a result, 320 million neurons, or more than two-thirds of an octopus's total, are found at the bases of its arms rather than in its central brain. Surprisingly, a single octopus arm contains more neurons than the entire body of a frog.
Octopuses, unlike humans, do not retain a constant body shape. Their bodies are remarkably fluid, shifting continually to adapt to their surroundings. octopuses are intelligent; they can solve problems, learn patterns, and use tools to achieve their objectives. They can unscrew jars from the inside and navigate mazes.
As the neurons in an octopus' arms are spread out, each one can think and make basic decisions for itself. The octopus's brain does not need to tell it to reach out and capture the crab from beneath the rock; the arm can make this decision on its own. This allows it to be extremely adaptable when confronted with a threat or when changing the texture and color of its skin to blend into the scenery or mimicking other creatures to scare away enemies.
While humans feel they are more superior, nature provides various examples which are intriguing and we humans should explore and learn from.
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