Octopus Packs 500 Million Neurons Into Its Arms as 3 Hearts Pump Blue Blood
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · Jul 12
Octopus Packs 500 Million Neurons Into Its Arms as 3 Hearts Pump Blue Blood
1 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Jul 12
Summary
About 500 million neurons make the octopus one of the most complex invertebrates, and most of that circuitry sits outside the central brain—especially in the arms.
Each arm combines a dense nerve cord, flexible muscle structure and sensory suckers, letting it handle local movement and rapid responses without constant commands from the head.
A 2020 Cell study helped explain how suckers can taste by touch, allowing arms to probe crevices, detect chemical traces and tighten around prey in real time.
Three hearts support that body plan: two pump blood through the gills and one sends oxygenated blood through the body, while copper-based hemocyanin gives the blood its blue color.
The result is a body-wide control system that helps explain octopus agility and is already influencing soft-robotics research.