Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: thedoc on 01/02/2013 08:06:18

Title: Can you read a fish's mind?
Post by: thedoc on 01/02/2013 08:06:18

A new imaging technique has allowed scientists to see thoughts occurring in real time as fish contemplate their prey.

Read the whole story on our  website by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news-archive/news/1000067/)

  

Title: Re: Can you read a fish's mind?
Post by: CliffordK on 01/02/2013 06:47:38

Probably somewhat more effective than doing neuro-imaging on dead fish. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=45660.msg397956#msg397956)

I like the idea of being able to observe the fish brain activity when the fish are more or less acting normally.  An EEG, or MRI might be difficult to do in the water while the fish are active, especially with small fish.

However, if the the fish is mostly transparent, what about adding some kind of contrast to the blood...  could one see the blood flow in the brain, somewhat like a PET or FMRI, without all the expensive equipment?

Title: Re: Can you read a fish's mind?
Post by: imatfaal on 05/02/2013 12:44:53

Unfortunately that dead fish saga is one of the most important experiments in the field - it shows that the parameters determined and generally agreed were rubbish. 

Title: None
Post by: PPM on 19/02/2013 21:10:02

nit picky point: its zebrafish NOT zebra fish