Nervous System and Cognitive Abilities

The first standout feature of octopuses that fuels technological inspiration is their unique nervous system, which operates independently from the brain, enhancing their cognitive abilities. With a decentralized nervous system housing approximately 300 to 500 million nerve cells, octopuses possess nearly as many nerves as dogs, making them among the most intelligent invertebrates.

The structure of the octopus's nervous system governs its actions and thought processes. Unlike our centralized system, where the brain issues commands, the octopus's brain merely offers general guidance. The arms possess autonomy, making many decisions on their own.

Despite this autonomy, communication flows seamlessly throughout the octopus’s body. For instance, arms relay information about their conditions to the brain, which formulates a plan and sends instructions back. This intricate communication allows octopuses to perform complex tasks, such as unscrewing a jar, maneuvering through obstacles, or utilizing tools for protection.

Insights from the octopus's nervous system could inform software design, allowing for distributed processing among various components instead of relying solely on a central processor.

The above video explores the remarkable neural capabilities and adaptive skin of octopuses, showcasing their unique intelligence and abilities.

Color-Changing Skin

The second remarkable trait of octopuses that sparks technological innovation is their extraordinary capacity to alter their skin color and texture in mere moments. This ability enables them to blend into their surroundings or imitate dangerous species, such as sea snakes or lionfish, to evade threats.

Octopus skin is equipped with specialized cells that respond to light, allowing them to change color effectively. The three types of cells involved are:

• Leukophores: These matte white pigment cells enhance skin brightness.
• Chromatophores: These cells contain pigment sacs that can be expanded or contracted by surrounding muscles.
• Indophores: These mirror-like cells reflect light, contributing to the color change.

When an octopus camouflages itself, it employs these cells together to achieve the desired effect.

In the next video, you will witness the speed at which octopuses can adapt their camouflage, illustrating their exceptional ability to conceal themselves.

The understanding of how octopuses change their skin can potentially inspire the creation of adaptive materials, such as artificial skin that alters color to match its environment.

Arm Functionality

The third eye-catching feature of octopuses that influences modern technology is the unique functionality of their arms. Octopus arms are distinct in several ways:

1. Independent Control: Each arm functions autonomously, possessing a rudimentary brain with around 40 million nerve cells. This allows them to monitor their own movements and even continue grasping with their suckers for an hour after detachment.
2. Flexibility: Lacking bones or rigid structures, octopus muscles can contract, stretch, and relax as needed. This adaptability enables their arms to bend and twist in multiple directions, facilitating a wide array of movements such as swimming, crawling, and digging.
3. Suction Mechanism: Each arm features up to one hundred suckers, equipped with touch and chemical receptors that can adhere to various surfaces and modulate suction strength. Remarkably, they never grasp their own limbs, even when detached.

These characteristics are paving the way for innovations in soft robotics. Built from flexible materials like rubber and silicone, soft robots can navigate tight spaces and withstand stress without the limitations of rigid joints.

Taking Action for Marine Conservation

Here are some actionable steps we can take to protect marine environments, ensuring that octopuses continue to thrive:

• Use environmentally friendly cleaning products at home and work.
• Minimize single-use plastics to reduce ocean pollution.
• Wash synthetic clothing in protective bags to prevent microplastic release.
• Participate in beach cleanups and engage with marine protection organizations.
• Consider reducing or eliminating octopus from your diet.

Do you have additional suggestions for protecting our oceans? Please share your ideas in the comments to inspire others.

Credit

This article is derived from:

Shamilyan, O., Kabin, I., Dyka, Z., Kuba, M., & Langendoerfer, P. (2021, June). Octopuses: biological facts and technical solutions. In 2021 10th Mediterranean Conference on Embedded Computing (MECO) (pp. 1–7). IEEE.