Colorful Emotions

Tran, Andrew

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95919 Copy

Description

Title

Colorful Emotions

Author(s)

Tran, Andrew

Contributor(s)

• Gillette, Rhanor
• Duman, Alexander

Issue Date

2017-04

Keyword(s)

Molecular and Integrative Physiology

Abstract

Roses are red, violets are blue, and octopuses are green, yellow, and brown. Colors are important representations of emotions, whether in poems or in octopuses. Remarkably, the octopus already displays mastery in controlling its chromatophores - the cells in its skin that gives it the unique ability to change color- despite being only two days old. Our research studies memory integration in the peripheral nervous system of the octopus - can the octopus store memory in its eight arms? However, it would also be interesting to examine if the pigments themselves can store memory and display emotion without the need of a brain. Interestingly enough, we have already witnessed learning behavior through color change in the octopus. When threatened or angry, the octopuses would turn red, much like how our cheeks turn red when we are feeling frustrated. When communication from the brain to the arm is severed, the arm still retains the ability to change colors and interact with its surroundings. Understanding the meanings of these colors could shed light on how these organisms use color to communicate, and maybe if the green polka dots on the heart shaped tentacles of the octopus in the picture means 'love' or 'back off'.

Type of Resource

• text
• image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95919

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2017 Andrew Tran

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