I Can Read Minds...of Fish--Week 1

Junichi Nakai of Saitama University's Brain Institute in Japan has been doing some research with zebrafish to monitor how the neurons in their brains are firing--almost as if he can read their minds. Seems kind of tricky when you think about it, considering you can't see the brains of most animals...it's pretty hard to see through a skull. However, these zebrafish are transparent and scientists have actually been able to see the neurons firing in their brains! They can see when they are displaying predatory behavior, as well as monitor their tectum (which is involved with visualizing moving things). Although this is just a small step in accomplishing a great feat, these scientists are confident that this study could eventually "improve the development of psychiatric drugs, as scientists will more easily be able to tell if a particular drug has the desired effects on the brain."

ZEBRAFISH!!

So why is a transparent fish important? It isn't just a fancy little discovery with no relevance to the real world. By monitoring the neurons firing in this fish's mind, scientists can gain insight into how the human mind, as well as the minds of other animals, works. It may not seem like much right now, but if this research is successful, this is the start to the next advancement in the medical world. 

I will admit, I may (or may not) have chosen this article because its title is "What's Your Fish Thinking," and I definitely wondered that about the fish in my aquarium growing up. When Finding Nemo came out, I learned that some fish have a memory span of 3 seconds, which further piqued my interest. However, this article is much more significant that just being able to tell a fish's thoughts. It could make it a lot easier someday for doctors to monitor the medicines they prescribe so that they know what actually works for certain patients--a symbol of hope, if you will. The human brain is kind of a miracle to me; it seems impossible that the normal person only uses 10% of his or her brain in a lifetime. If this is the key to knowing and actually understanding how our brains work, I look forward to seeing where this research goes. 

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2013/01/whats-your-fish-thinking.html?ref=hp

Photo cred: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chenhowen/2316701540/