Many developments in biomedical research have been inspired by discovering anatomical and cellular mechanisms that support specific functions in different species. The octopus is one of these exceptional animals that has given scientists new insights into the fields of neuroscience, robotics, and prosthetics. To begin research with this species of cephalopods the set-up of complex facilities and intensive care routines for both the octopus and its ecosystem is predicated on the project’s... Show moreMany developments in biomedical research have been inspired by discovering anatomical and cellular mechanisms that support specific functions in different species. The octopus is one of these exceptional animals that has given scientists new insights into the fields of neuroscience, robotics, and prosthetics. To begin research with this species of cephalopods the set-up of complex facilities and intensive care routines for both the octopus and its ecosystem is predicated on the project’s success. After the successful deployment of this marine ecosystem, research into the neurobiology of the octopus’s limbs began with the study of provoked responses in extracellular ex vivo tissue through electrical stimulation. The preliminary results suggest that the methods employed within this study show extracellular electrophysiology data can be recorded from the tissue as well as evoke responses. Outcomes from this research assist to understand how to successfully record electrophysiological data from octopuses and effectively analyze the results to support next steps in the research. The data collected from this study will be employed for testing in vivo recording electrodes for the eventual goal of understanding how an octopus’s nervous system coordinates movement while engaging in normal behavior. This will ultimately aid in replicating its mechanisms for locally controlled movement through robotics for the use in prosthetics. Show less
