Časoris
Orjaška hobotnica iz pacifiškega oceana. Vir: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr/CC BY 2.0
Orjaška hobotnica iz pacifiškega oceana. Vir: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

A dreaming octopus and its colors

Can you imagine your skin colour changing while you sleep?

Scientists have filmed the incredible flood of colour all over an octopus’ body while it sleeps. It is enjoyable and reassuring to see her in these strange times.

Or maybe it’s dreaming? We do not know. We can only guess about that.

The period when we dream at night lasts an hour and a half to two hours. During sleep, our body goes through different phases, and we also dream in different phases.

The most intense dreams, which we also remember best, are experienced in the REM phase. This acronym means rapid eye movement, which is typical of the time when we dream.

Researchers have found in various ways that animals also dream when sleeping. They were looking for the REM phase. It turns out that most mammals and birds dream, and the REM phase has also been recorded in some reptiles, while amphibians and fish do not dream.

What about invertebrates, which include octopuses? In one study, scientists found that cuttlefish also change skin colour during sleep. It could mean they are dreaming.

Despite research, it is still unclear whether animals dream in pictures and sounds, just like us, or otherwise. Unfortunately, they will probably never be able to tell us.

Points to Consider

  1. Do you remember your dreams often? 
  2. Can you connect them with your daytime experience?
  3. Which dreams you like most?

***

The original version of this article was published on April 8th.

English translation courtesy of JL FlannerTotal Slovenia News, an English language website with news from and about Slovenia.

Urša

Adamič je radovedna raziskovalka najmanjših in največjih zverinic, od celic do zvezd in še vse vmes. Na poti se ustavi tudi na kakšni predstavi ali razstavi in svet popravi.

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