Every arm on an octopus has its own massive nervous system

INA - SOURCES

Octopus arms display incredible dexterity, bending and twisting with near-infinite freedom. These movements help octopuses explore their environments, manipulate objects, and catch prey.

Recent research reveals a fascinating secret behind this flexibility: segmented nervous system circuitry.

“If you’re going to have a nervous system that’s controlling such dynamic movement, that’s a good way to set it up,” said Dr. Clifton Ragsdale, professor of neurobiology at the University of Chicago.

This segmentation appears to be an evolutionary adaptation specific to soft-bodied cephalopods like octopuses.

Octopus arms are equipped with a remarkably complex nervous system, containing more neurons collectively in their eight arms than in their brain.

This extensive network of neurons is concentrated in a structure called the axial nerve cord (ANC), which runs along the length of each arm.

The ANC is segmented, with each segment corresponding to one of the suckers on the arm. These segments act like local control hubs, with nerves branching out to nearby muscles and sensory structures associated with each sucker.

The segmented organization of the ANC allows the octopus to manage the movement and sensory functions of each sucker independently, enabling precise control over their arms.

This unique design supports the octopus’s extraordinary ability to explore, manipulate, and interact with its environment with unparalleled dexterity.