” What we found was the neuronal network which included chemosensory function and body pattern control, which enables the cuttlefish to utilize in foraging and its camouflage,” Dr. Chung said. “We also discovered that the brain adjustments show the requirement of their every day life concerning ecology and environments.”
The map of the brain structure could likewise help scientists understand the evolutionary path of the cuttlefish brain and, in turn, possibly gain insights into the evolution of our own brain.
” This research includes to our growing understanding of the cuttlefish brain together with our recent discoveries in the brains of octopus and squid,” Dr. Chung said. “It suggests that the brain structures can be utilized to investigate the evolutionary history of cephalopods. And by comprehending the brain structures and networks of other animals, we can begin to view more of the forces that formed our brain.”
Reference: “The brain structure and the neural network functions of the diurnal cuttlefish Sepia plangon” by Wen-Sung Chung, Alejandra López-Galán, Nyoman D. Kurniawan and N. Justin Marshall, 21 December 2022, iScience.DOI: 10.1016/ j.isci.2022.105846.
The study was moneyed by the Australian Research Council, the Office of Naval Research Global, and the National Council for Science and Technology of Mexico (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología– CONACYT)..
New mapping of the cuttlefish brain might describe how, and why, the marine animal uses its unique camouflage ability. Credit: Dr. Wen-Sung Chung/ Queensland Brain Institute
Scientists from The University of Queensland (UQ) and the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) have revealed new insights into the cuttlefish brain, providing an explanation for the marine animals distinct capability to camouflage. The neuroscientists have actually developed the first-ever in-depth map of the cuttlefish brain structure and neuronal network, opening up a brand-new opportunity of discovery.
” Much of our understanding of the cuttlefish brain has actually been based upon a single species, the nocturnal European typical cuttlefish,” Lead author Dr. Wen-Sung Chung from QBIs Marshall Lab stated. “We wished to fill in the spaces of this knowledge by concentrating on picked cuttlefish which are active throughout the day and further compare to other types from the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific areas.”
The research study group from The University of Queenslands Queensland Brain Institute used gross anatomy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to monitor changes in the visual and finding out areas of the brain and compared their findings with those from other cuttlefish types to develop a detailed brain connection map.