Can octopuses dream? It is still not entirely clear. Now thanks to a new documentary that will be released on the PBS network this October 2, the possibility of octopus having the ability to dream is talked about, which would lead them to activate their camouflage system involuntarily.
The documentary is called “Octopus: Making Contact” and in fact it does not focus on dreaming octopuses and research on such dreams, but on octopus behavior and cognition. But as a trailer, PBS and Nature published an extremely amazing video where you can see how the octopus changes color while dreaming, or at least that is what is believed.
This is what causes the imagination of a dreaming octopus
The documentary is provided by Dr. David Scheel, a professor at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, who shows part of his research and some conclusions after raising Heidi, a small cephalopod who lived in his home and even lived with his daughter.
As described by PBS, in the documentary we will see how Heidi demonstrates her abilities to solve puzzles, use tools and escape through small spaces. We also see how he adopts a behavior that simulates a family pet, as he learns to recognize faces, seems to get excited when humans approach his tank, and even shows a penchant for playing with Scheel’s daughter.
In the video that anticipates the premiere of the documentary, we can see Heidi in his totally peaceful pond while changing color several times. In the video Professor Scheel himself recounts what is happening, or believes that it is happening, where he mentions that Heidi is dreaming and even imagines what he could be dreaming of.
The video is really fascinating.
“So here she is asleep, she sees a crab and her color begins to change a bit. Then it becomes completely dark. Octopuses do this when they leave the bottom. This is a camouflage, as if she had just submitted to a crab and now she She’s going to sit and eat it and she doesn’t want anyone to notice her … This is really fascinating. But yes, if she’s dreaming, surely this is her dream. “
Octopuses usually activate their camouflage in response to the conditions around. So does this video mean that the octopus is dreaming of something? Perhaps, and today there is still not enough evidence to say for sure if octopuses dream in the same way as human beings.
It is expected that after the premiere of this documentary there will be new data about this supposed dream in octopuses, or at least the reason for this behavior that goes along the lines of a definition of “dream” can be defined.
Via | PBS
