Why the octopus brain is so extraordinary - Cláudio L. Guerra

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/why-the-oct...
Octopuses have the ability to solve puzzles, learn through observation, and even use tools - just like humans. But what makes octopus intelligence so amazing is that it comes from a biological structure completely different from ours. Cláudio L. Guerra takes a look inside the amazing octopus brain.
Lesson by Cláudio L. Guerra, animation by Cinematic.

[@09beckbeck]

this is actually the cutest animation ever

[@gavinjones]

+jebopper You're cuter ;)

[@HAngeli]

+jebopper It is! The bumbo octopus is really really cute!

[@snarf1504]

Google: Oktapodi, it's a short movie from Gobelins with similar cuteness :)

[@paultremblay4836]

+H Angeli in ancient japanese Manga, the octopus chase pussy a lot

[@marlasinger6989]

The Japanese appear to have some serious issues with vagina.

[@whoaminow100]

they left out that octopuses can teach other octopuses. there was a study to see how well octopuses could remember mazes. the old food is at 1 point maze with repeated attempts and timed. first time the octopus carefully explored the whole place ate the food when it got there and continued exploring until it was removed. second time it checked out the maze a little and went straight to where the food was. the next time they used a different octopus that was kept in the same tank, it went straight to where the food was. so octopus 1 told octopus 2 what was going on and where the food would be in a maze that octopus 2 had never been to.

[@whoaminow100]

Finesse Kid sorry cant find it - i remember it was in a magazine, but which one i dont know. it was several years ago.

[@p3yukj]

richard reeve

[@markcates8298]

hioman cassu

[@markcates8298]

Breezy Cruz

[@markcates8298]

here im

[@iwantmyfriescrispynotburnt3981]

y'all remember when Squidward had that talent show and started dancing...

[@JesusMartinez-rr2ry]

I loved how Squidward danced. Too bad everyone in Bikini Bottom doesn't

[@laur-unstagenameactuallyca1587]

squidward is proof of intelligent life

[@stalliontheehottie]

😭😭😭

[@shanecoy]

Bruh Squidward is a Squid

[@arikakarin2323]

@@shanecoy bruh he is an octopus.. It is known

[@wuznab5109]

Our bodies work like a monarchy and the octopus works like a democracy?

[@listen2164]

To add on to the analogy you've suggested; the human/chordate brain is relatively the same kind of brain organisation as earlier bilateria from before the protostomes and deuterostomes split. animals like the acoela and relatives (xenoturbella, nematomorpha) display a basic nervous system. acoels have the most primitive, basal level of cephalisation, but the only thing they have in that regard is the rudimentary brain, like the thane of a simple feudalistic system, with a nervous net, the disorganised society, just starting to become organised.

[@listen2164]

octopuses have an "oligarchic" brain, to continue the analogy, though their 8 nerve cords, complete with their own brains, come from their earlier molluscan ancestors, and with the majority of their fellow protostomes. the nerve cords are ventral, like in planarians, and, common to all protostomes, a dorsal brain; whereas most deuterostomes, including us, echinoderms (for a tiny point in their early larvae) have a medial (centred instead of dorsal or ventral) brain and a dorsal nerve cord, which becomes the spinal nerve cord. we continued to develop the same basic monarchic nervous system, and octopus developed from the same vague monarchic nervous system but unlike most other molluscs, even squid and cuttlefish, are the most truly different in their democratic/oligarchic nervous system. earthworms would technically almost be diarchic, with one brain in the front and a secondary rear cerebroid ganglion with three-quarters of the same level of autonomy as the earthworm's cerebral brain

[@Delinae]

Trying to imagine the octopus book cover for Thomas Hobbes' book The Leviathan. Shudders.

[@Alkalus]

Most monarchs today don’t have much power.

[@luxblitzar8718]

You have ascended

[@EugeneKhutoryansky]

An octopus is generally considered to have approximately the same level of intelligence as a cat. My personal view is that both cats and octopuses are far more intelligent than are certain humans (such as members of congress).

[@mobyboat6196]

that is 200% true in Spain

[@sgtstull]

2edgy4me

[@poundtownlegend1564]

+Physics Videos by Eugene Khutoryansky Which ones I only find a select few to be super foolish.

[@zinqtable1092]

+Physics Videos by Eugene Khutoryansky Your comment was nonsense.

[@poundtownlegend1564]

The Laxis Army Not really we have a lot of smart men in congress you probably just don't agree with a lot of them.

[@kuwait85]

Adorable cartoon...don't be fooled...they are highly intelligent and deadly

[@bookseatkitty4000]

Yes they can sense danger and attack!

[@aappaapp6627]

+BooksEatKitty The uprising of the octopuses is coming.....

[@trietnguyen8008]

+kuwait85 well the pink one, it's name is adorabilis. because its actually cute.

[@ellllllo77]

octopodibus are dangerous ? I didn't know that D:

[@kuwait85]

+Jnan Mckenzie HAHAHAHA chutle be praised 😂. You win.

[@jonnykahle525]

"Every tentacle got its own intelligence" Is that why it is so hard to make Octodad fulfill his tasks?

[@Munchkin.Of.Pern09]

Hevron Yes. Yes it is.

[@splatking8]

It’s the best joke I’ve ever seen on a KZbin video on an Octopus 🐙

[@e4Bc4Qf3Qf7]

The arms and legs literally have a mind of their own

[@aidenoliver1681]

As an octopus I feel very offended for to say something so offensive

[@Lokitellus]

That’s like human arms having their own brain

[@cadeferguson1704]

2:57 ARE YOU FEELING IT NOW MR KRABS?!?!

[@zekromyt9688]

XD

[@charlesleflamand]

hèhè :)

[@yourlocalfruitman2088]

"OH YEAH, MR. KRABS!"

[@marlasinger6989]

Why is he called Squidward when he's obviously an octopus?

[@ruthhh.m]

Because Octopus-ward doesn't sound as nice😃

[@zacharycarter1084]

The pink octopus was so cute!!

[@yuh685]

It's a dumbo octopus

[@SpoobSnack]

Zachary Carter "Aww you guys made me ink!"

[@salma4193]

Lol

[@Munchkin.Of.Pern09]

Zachary Carter it's scientific name is "adorabilis". Science agrees with you.

[@marjorie2070]

You mean red

[@factsinmotion3978]

I'm pretty sure the plural of octopus is 83.14159

[@siyacer]

Yep

[@crisnelabello5200]

it's actually octopi

[@Ghost-vl2zw]

@@crisnelabello5200 that's what he said lol

[@YahshuaisKing]

It's octonauts

[@lj8983]

Noice😂😂

[@Mikasks]

I know how octopus works Brain:"I want to eat that crab" Tentacles:"ok"

[@jiazeng6485]

First reply

[@kakalimukherjee3297]

Second reply

[@lilydragon2129]

Basically

[@kakalimukherjee3297]

@@lilydragon2129 I hate you

[@Zooollieg]

@@kakalimukherjee3297 why?

[@Evry1LuvsJennieO]

Literally my favorite sea creature. I had a very candid experience when I was 16 going snorkeling with a "baby" octo (it was about 24" in length) that lasted for about 15 minutes. I suggest to read this booked called The Soul of an Octopus. Incredibly nice story. It has some amazing facts about these beautiful creatures

[@mrrp405]

I love that book

[@jyotsnamiskeen8563]

the octopus's dance, though x'D

[@GauravSingh-qi9xj]

Yes. I must try that move. Everyone should try that move.

[@hollyblack1034]

octopus are my favorite animals. they are beautiful, elegant, intelligent. such a great creature

[@prometheus9096]

and they taste delicious :D

[@damagecontrol7]

you either have to go with octopuses or octopi when referring to the plural .

[@yuno3807]

Especially in hentai

[@cormacb2326]

+Johnny Or octopodes.

[@athinaarmym2238]

Não Consigo Pensar Em Um Nome don’t completement yourself

[@harmonyjones8035]

How do you make an octopus laugh? :D With ten tickles ;-) I'm here all week, folks :P

[@larryp9441]

"Why ten?" "TENTACLES YOU STUPID FUCK"

[@user-xy7dm7cu4v]

Harmony Jones I

[@whitecastlejones7415]

Harmony Jones octopus has 8 tentacles

[@Vexsus22]

you dont say ....

[@marlasinger6989]

"Try the veal"

[@ytgadfly]

The sad thing is octopuses live very short lives (a few years at most). Imagine what they could learn if they lived a decade or 2.

[@hu3m4n90]

just for the sake of it, imagine they percive time better than us and comunicate with telepathy.

[@drisrathasan-pmr]

I want them to live 171 years

[@MegaAwesomeNick]

I should breed octopuses for their intelligence, and create an army of loyal subjects to build my undersea empire.

[@drunkenwhaler6890]

MegaAwesomeNick too short of a lifespan and to shellfish(get it?) To be loyal. Better get a dog lol

[@SunRabbit]

Well, there's that one octopus that always correctly picks the World Cup winner, so maybe you could train them to do something useful like assemble a securities portfolio. Stratefied by risk and return. Or maybe just something simple like a currency portfolio.

[@hydrathermal9030]

Give them ink blasters and command them to steal a giant electric eel

[@johnjonjhonjonathanjohnson3559]

did it work

[@davebirney]

what was that apple doing in the ocean?

[@MadelineBrigit]

+Dave Birney i dropped it for the octipi family. 🍏🍏🍏

[@gfetco]

+Dave Birney Copy/Paste: If something the same size has more "stuff" inside it than the water does, it's gonna sink.Apples have less stuff in the same space thanwater, so they float. But grapes have more stuff than water in that space, so they sink."

[@davebirney]

Enlightenment lol still doesn't explain why the apple was there in the first place

[@gfetco]

***** I was simply building on your motivation to know.

[@Shoreknight]

+Dave Birney It was diving to research the Octopi. Duh. . .

[@angelvu]

1:53 lol

[@tomatoesforever34]

ikr

[@pig_porkchop_7040]

yes

[@orlandoechevarria7072]

Não Consigo Pensar Em Um Nome SQUIDWARD WHAT ARE YOU DOING???

[@plushielover228]

3:59 im sorry but- this is just too adorable TvT

[@dhonorario]

All hail Cthulhu!

[@jenius9164]

hell yeah! :)

[@sulffojus1227]

wow i was just watching a terraria vid just a while ago

[@mika1998125]

+vidmario bros cuthulu doesnt just come fron terraria but ok

[@sulffojus1227]

snika123 ye i know its also from ancient folktale but it became popular in terraria

[@koi2932]

+Dio Paulo Honorario I searched it up. Is it like a mix of a giant Davy Jones and the KRaken

[@johness5948]

The expression of the red octopus at 3:03 is priceless. Well done animators!

[@OmegaMegalodon]

in 1000 years, we get to see squid man as a new race as they emerged from the ocean.

[@naryosh_]

Can't wait

[@SA-pi3zm]

my money is on them if humans go extinct

[@proton8689]

But then we have dolphins, other primates and elephants. There's a lot of competition

[@pleb3661]

Cthulu?

[@OmegaMegalodon]

Seteiris wow,,,best reply so far. lol

[@lilypadslothtakeover655]

Now I know why squid ward is so smart

[@katherinerichardson2273]

LilyPadSlothTAKEOVER he's not technically an octopus he only has six tentacles. he's a squid

[@georgie6999]

LilyPadSlothTAKEOVER he's a squid dumbass

[@marlasinger6989]

Squidward is an octopus. I have to assume he changed his name because he was, for whatever reason, ashamed of his heritage. He is pretty uptight. And, KATHERINE RICHARDSON, squid have 10 tentacles - and in males, one is also a penis. (Not kidding. I couldn't make this up.)

[@_matt_9162]

Stale Milo He's still a cephalopod dude

[@gabrielkawa432]

@@marlasinger6989 Because it was too difficult to animate

[@MorrisonEnterprise]

Need 7 more 2 join my Octoposse.

[@TickedOffPriest]

+Eric Morrison I see what you did there.

[@marlasinger6989]

Need 3 more to join my band, Rocktopus!

[@lordilluminati5836]

cute animation, theese animals are so cool!

[@matmirza5376]

Oww

[@matmirza5376]

And thiccc

[@ekuniverses3852]

hi

[@Calm_Energy]

@ patricio torre there's a great book called "Other Minds" all about cephalopods and their uniqueness you might like

[@GenderWoman666]

They're an aliens, bro! :D ^v^ XD

[@moonstonepearl21]

Fascinating creatures. I love the adorable animations you have of the animals. I really love that little octopus. I remember when they discovered it fairly recently a few years back. They appropriately named it Octopusus Adorableis, or something to that effect. It's the perfect name for the cute little creature. They would make awesome pets! :)

[@ratillaarl1123]

Octopus : Look! A hooman! Little octo : What a strange looking octopus..

[@wilsonong2898]

1:44 cute af

[@erenjaeger4654]

*SO MY YOGA GURU IS ACTUALLY AN OCTOPUS IN DISGUISE XD*

[@Literally_1984_owl]

When you realize that 3:25 is from Finding Dory

[@siyacer]

When you realize you're a dumbass

[@SA-pi3zm]

when you realize this was out waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy before finding dory

[@harmonyjones8035]

When you realise people called Corey are ALL assholes. Hashtag NeverMetACoreyILiked

[@sabrehound3963]

Harmony Jones obviously you never watched Coryxkenshin

[@harmonyjones8035]

Ser Artorias That's true.

[@britnielevi110]

This animation honestly makes learning enjoyable for me. Thank you. 💜

[@voraz3461]

I'm now convinced that octopi are pretty damn cool.

[@cortster12]

An alien intelligence if I've ever seen one.

[@biohazard724]

"We are the Harbinger of your ascension, Shepard."

[@sebastianley5779]

+biohazard724 Lmfao

[@fulcrum2951]

Those damn illegal space squid be enterin our planet

[@popsicIes]

@@fulcrum2951 squid

[@agustinbaletti]

1:54 so cute. They will rule us and the entire Galaxy one day....

[@greenergrass4060]

i love the little detail in the end when the two octopus hold tentacles

[@rohanpandey2037]

At 3:53 the scuba diver's head and hair looks kinda like an octopus

[@virtruyamean8920]

it did

[@voltronbugzilla8775]

This is the best animation of Ted Ed, it´s very fluid and flexible and complex.

[@terrancekayton007]

😏😁😉

[@v-learningcommunity1318]

So interesting! I always enjoy these TED-Ed videos. Thank you!

[@kayleighperry6200]

the animation in this was incredible!!!! just so cute yet appropriate. it fitted perfectly

[@abel.lisman]

I love octopuses. I had to study them for a lesson in college and they are amazing, really smart. We have a lot to learn about their way of life.

[@MAFiA303]

I thought the plural is octopussies.

[@miranuzeri979]

lmao xD

[@eddiehowell9871]

+Saad MAFiA It's Octopi

[@kingnollid]

+eddie howell no, it's octopuses. "octopi" defies the law of Latin plurals. Octopodes is also acceptable.

[@Insertnamesz]

+eddie howell - It's not, octopus is not a Latin derived word. If you ask a biologist they'd probably resort to octopuses or octopodes.

[@silicalnz3008]

+Saad MAFiA Octopie

[@DreQueary]

I just cannot get over how cute and high quality these animations are.

[@funnytourtoise]

The quality of the animation in this video is ace!

[@quiddlesticks3846]

Those octopuses/octopi/whatever are so cute!

[@listen2164]

There ought to be an episode on Ctenophora, and the evolution of neurones independently of other animals, as well as the determining evolutionary differences between ctenophores and other gelatinous animals. Beroida is especially interesting, being one of the smarter ones, and I think they deserve at least a small mention in the video. Thanks!

[@albreigh]

1:46 That octopus be vibin' man

[@beverlyj1885]

As always the animation is adorable!!

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

The pink octopus is so damn cute.

[@fleur6788]

The eyes of octopuses (actually cephalopods in general) are amazing as well! They are actually better than ours because they don't have a blind spot like we do.

[@aquaholic3774]

octopuses (or octopi, whatever) are my favourite animals, and this adorable animation just made me smile ☺

[@AirDave8]

In spite of what Claudio L. Guerra (who wrote this lesson) teached us, the human somatic nervous system (SNS or voluntary nervous system, the system of voluntary movements through the skeletal muscles) behaves exactly like the octopods' brain. SNS also has a behavioral library from which it selects behavioral responses: when we have an intention, as the signal travels through the network, the SNS pickup the message and jump into the action to command the movement selected from the library which is selected in its wholeness, not moving the individual parts. To be clear, when we decide to grab an apple, the SNS selects the entire packet of answers for grabbing the apple based on the information collected at that moment from various channels, for example the distance between the body and the apple. These are clearly discoveries only from the early 2000s thanks to functional neuroimaging techniques, but as early as 1900s scientists such as Moshé Feldekrais speculated this and created movement educational methods based on this principle of our nervous system and that's why in motor rehab experts don't work only on the individual bodyparts but on the whole functions (to grab the apple in our case)! :) Anyway this is an exellent lesson, thanks you TED-Ed!

[@manatadangelgracef.6440]

*Allowing their limbs to any point and at any direction* Dang they're the best dancers!

[@charlesleflamand]

excellent video, complicated scientific stuff made understandable for everyone and well made animation too :)

[@hadassafortuna4966]

This was so useful. Thank you for letting us know!

[@zepecat]

kuddos to cinematic.se the team in charge of these animations. this one, and the tardigrade, are definitely so funny. You deserve an Oscar !

[@celestehills]

THIS IS TOO CUTE how do you make it? :3 Too adorable :3

[@TipsyMike17]

these are one of my most favorite animal.. theyre awesome

[@bradleysmythe1827]

Michael Moralde III Agreed

[@sociopathicunicorn6628]

I love the ending! so adorable!

[@iona447]

I always knew the Octopus was special! I've been interested in them since I was very young, one of my first class talks at school was on the Octopus. Still learning about them and collecting Octopus-themed things today! Aha ha

[@TheAIEpiphany]

The best thing is that we can learn so much about our intelligence by exploring octopuses! We need to have an octopus department in every AI lab lol.

[@lc7592]

3:56 awww so cute.

[@teawrecks1243]

yay, finally a cartoon animated octopus THAT ACTUALLY HAS EIGHT ARMS

[@arckocsog253]

Amazing animation as usual! Loved the dancing octopus!

[@maxradke2189]

"AWWW you made me ink!"

[@mihajlocvetic5543]

"shake its tenticles" insert lenny face here

[@anthonydavid8377]

Mr. Darkness kzbin.info/www/bejne/sImveZ2hnJejaJI

[@Ry-912]

that ending was adorable 😄

[@brickhouse618]

That boy at 1:42 started popping and getting it in. I died. 😂💀

[@dragonoid510]

oh so thats how tentacle hentai works

[@nathanaelraynard2641]

Lol

[@Burn_Angel]

It makes sense tho.

[@fulcrum2951]

NOPE NOPE

[@Mythbuster3808]

It all makes sense now especially the whole mind of there own part

[@Ethorbit]

dragonoid510 stop

[@AtomicRick1817]

Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion bought me here xD

[@r_-hz7pv]

XD

[@NezumiEfeu]

1:44 Its so cute oh my god. Its so CUTE! I mean look at him, hes like "Im an octupus and i have wiggly arms. Wiggeli-wiggeli" I bet his motto is "Dance like nobodys watchin" ^^

[@tigergirl906]

Octopi 🐙 would make the world’s greatest drummers

[@jinspomu7103]

i'd say the plural of octopus is "octopi" since its kinda more appropriate kinda like cactus with "cacti"

[@churroholics8689]

Octopus doesn't come from Latin, therefore it doesn't follow the same rule

[@harmonyjones8035]

It's octopuses. Octopi gets a red line under it and my spellchecker looks at me like I'm a bonehead :)

[@contramuffin5814]

OP, that's why there's significant debate over the plural of "octopus." While general notion is that "-us" words becomes "-i," you have to realize that English is perhaps one of the most stupid languages ever conceived, with exceptions to the exceptions of rules of English. Some linguists therefore argue that because octopus has a Greek etymology, it doesn't follow the "-us to -i" rule, which applies to Latin words, making "octopuses" the correct word in this sense.

[@hasch5756]

Neither does Cactus, actually. The Greek plural form would suggest something along the lines of 'Cacteae'

[@limediamond3657]

The plural for octopus is octopodes. Idk where people got “octopi” from.

[@syxty3162]

1:48 PLEASE make this a gif

[@inception2481]

That last scene was so cute I melted

[@ekuniverses3852]

4:00 made me cry

[@GraemeMarkNI]

Cutest TedEd cartoon yet; lol, "captain's cookies" :D

[@renoni3885]

1:46 what a cutie!!! :D

[@LuLu-fx8it]

the drawings are awsome! I can't stop laughting each time I see the octopus :,)

[@youknowthemroundcirclethin9036]

Of course he's only a little octopus 🐙 but I was really surprised by his strength!

[@MohamedHassan-tm7mn]

Octopuses are awesome 🐙

[@bulletbill1104]

"They don't have lungs, spines, or even a plural noun we can all agree on" Well I know quite a few humans that don't have spines.

[@randallmokjialung3592]

Mate straight up admitted to removing people's spines like a mad man

[@PhoneticFuhrer]

This video is truly the Dadliest Catch.

[@christianquirion526]

The octopus tippy-toeing looks so funny 😆 ( 3:14 )

[@gothnerd887]

I'm getting Splatoon lore vibes

[@ns_guy5149]

Gothic Girl same

[@MikoGarrido]

So an octopus is essentially a tentacle hivemind?

[@pinstripe4254]

This animation is gosh dang adorable but then I remember the way they can eat each other by trapping another octopus inside its tentacles and ripping it apart with its beak.

[@vjeari15]

they look sooo adorable

[@InMaTeofDeath]

Here's to hoping we find something similar on Europa!

[@loganmeurer8116]

Amen to that, the Europa missions will be incredible

[@Dave11078]

3:56 " daddy what's that?" "Its called a human." "Will they hurt Us?" "Probably not." "Hold my hand just in case."

[@alafinformatics1176]

Imagine eating an alive octopus. Its like eating a dog that’s alive

[@rahcollier7006]

I love octopuses! They're cute!

[@katiekawaii]

Octopuses are the best.

[@ghiewel09]

I FOUND DORY!!! 3:25

[@Infoentertain555]

Such a cute animation I have seen

[@fep_ptcp883]

This sheds a new light on Dr. Otto Octavius' misbehavior

[@lilaclizard4504]

_"who knows what other forms of intelligent life are possible, or how they process the world around them"_ the video says & I think that is one of the most interesting questions from this! Loving just the octopus intelligence & how, but apply this to plants & you open up a Pandora's box! (plants have been demonstrated to be capable of memory & other traits associated with intelligence, a similar system to the octopus could explain how)

[@agilghifari552]

of the plural form of octopus isoctopi and the plural form of cactus is cacti why don't we call the plural form of bus "bi" ?

[@novaluisa7110]

+agil ghifari Because the plural form of octopus ISNT "octopi"

[@SunRabbit]

That's because "Bus" is already an abbreviated Latin plural, and you can't make something that's already a plural into a plural. "Bus" is short for "Onmibus" which means "everybody."

[@apurvatidke4123]

I really loved this video. The octopusses (going with this one) were so cute. Also I just wanted to dance with the pink squiggly octopus. 😘🐙

[@jacobLan]

I like the open mind to accept the possible that is some create may intelligent than people. Especially, showing they are connected by love in the end of this video.