Octopus Reflexes Reveal Surprising Mind-Body Awareness

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Octo Ouch

Octopuses passed (failed?) the rubber arm test. Just like humans, the cephalopod shuttered when a fake tentacle near their own was hit.

• Fake arm placed above the real thing

• Both brushed at the same time

• Striking only the fake arm induced stress and fleeing reactions

This suggests that octopuses have body awareness, something we were unsure of given their tentacles’ decentralized autonomy. Further research could influence soft robotics systems with distributed control. Also, octos must be GREAT at Twister.

Faux Real

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