After completing a map of its brain focused on neural connections, it was found that the squid brain was, as suspected, very complex, as much as that of a dog, according to Wen-Sung Chung , of the Queensland Brain Institute of the University of Queensland.
Modern cephalopods, a group that includes octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid, have famous and complex brains. At least in number of neurons, they outnumber rats and mice.
Sepioteuthis lessoniana
Some cephalopods have more than 500 million neurons, compared to 200 million for a rat and 20,000 for a normal mollusk. Now their connections have been further studied in order to unravel the squid’s secret to camouflage itself instantly. As Chung , lead author of this study, explains:
This is the first time modern technology has been used to explore the brain of this incredible animal, and we proposed 145 new connections and pathways, more than 60 percent of which are linked to vision and motor systems.
Some examples of complex cephalopod behavior include the ability to camouflage themselves despite being color blind, to count, to recognize patterns, to solve problems, and to communicate using a variety of signals .
We can see that many neural circuits are dedicated to camouflage and visual communication. Giving the squid a unique ability to evade predators, hunt and communicate specifically with dynamic color changes.
Specifically, the study included the use of techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging of the brain of the reef squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana .
For example, this study proposes several new networks of neurons in charge of visually guided behaviors, such as locomotion and shading camouflage, when squids display different colors on the top and bottom of their bodies to blend in with the background. whether they are being viewed from above or below.