OBOC EVENT: Eight Arms, Three Hearts, One Mind: Exploring the Molecular Ingredients for Intelligence In-Person
What does it mean to be "intelligent" when your brain is wrapped around your esophagus and two-thirds of your neurons are located in your arms?
In his engaging presentation, University of Mount Union biochemistry professor Dr. Keith Miller will dive beneath the surface of the octopus’s alien anatomy to explore the fundamental biochemistry that powers their remarkable problem-solving skills and emotional lives when he presents “Eight Arms, Three Hearts, One Mind: Exploring the Molecular Ingredients for Intelligence” on Tuesday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at Rodman Public Library.
Registration is required.
By comparing the molecular architecture of the octopus mind with our own, we will discover the shared chemical language — from neurotransmitters to protein receptors — that bridges the gap between our two species despite 500 million years of separate evolution.
Attendees can expect a fascinating journey into the molecular blueprint of consciousness. We will discuss how nature arrived at "intelligence" through two very different evolutionary paths, revealing what makes the octopus mind so distinct and what its sophisticated chemistry tells us about the nature of thought itself.