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Science & Nature
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Hugs on Drugs: The Startling Science of Why Octopuses on Ecstasy Want to Cuddle
Scientists discovered that asocial octopuses become remarkably social and tactile when given MDMA. This groundbreaking study reveals that the brain chemistry for social bonding is an ancient trait shared with humans, dating back over 500 million years to a common ancestor.
An Alien of the Deep
The octopus is one of Earth's most enigmatic creatures. With three hearts, blue blood, and a brain distributed throughout its arms, it's the closest thing we have to a true alien intelligence. They are masters of camouflage, capable of solving complex puzzles, and famously, they are profoundly solitary. Outside of mating, an octopus prefers its own company, often acting aggressively toward others of its kind. So what would it take to make this reclusive genius of the sea want to reach out and touch someone?
A Dose of Empathy
In a groundbreaking and admittedly bizarre experiment, scientists at Johns Hopkins University decided to find out. Led by neuroscientist Gül Dölen, the research team administered a liquid form of MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), commonly known as ecstasy or molly, to the California two-spot octopus (Octopus bimaculoides).
Why? The researchers knew that in humans, MDMA boosts levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of empathy and social bonding. They had also recently sequenced the octopus genome and found that it shared a critical gene with humans for a protein that binds serotonin to brain cells. The question was whether this ancient, shared piece of genetic code meant the drug would have a similar effect on the octopus's famously asocial behavior.
From Solitary to Socialite
The results were astonishing. Sober octopuses placed in a tank with three chambers—one empty, one with a novel object, and one containing another octopus in a cage—generally avoided the chamber with their fellow cephalopod. But after soaking in a diluted MDMA bath, their behavior completely changed.
The octopuses on MDMA spent significantly more time in the chamber with the other octopus. More than that, their interactions changed. Instead of approaching with caution or aggression, they engaged in gentle, exploratory touching. They wrapped their arms around the enclosure in a behavior that could only be described as hugging.
The octopuses tended to hug the cage and put their mouth parts on the cage. This is very similar to how humans react to MDMA; they touch each other frequently.<- Gül Dölen, lead researcher
A 500-Million-Year-Old Connection
This study is more than just a quirky headline. It suggests that the brain circuits governing social behavior are incredibly ancient, dating back more than 500 million years to the last common ancestor between humans and octopuses. Despite our vastly different evolutionary paths and brain structures, the fundamental neurochemical toolkit for sociability has been conserved.
The fact that a drug can unlock pro-social behavior in such a solitary and evolutionarily distant creature reveals a deep, shared connection across the animal kingdom. It seems the desire to connect isn't just a human trait; its building blocks are wired into life itself, waiting for the right chemical key to turn the lock—even for an eight-armed alien from the deep.