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    Short WaveThe "Shocking" Tactic Electric Fish Use to Collectively Sense the World
    9 min

    The "Shocking" Tactic Electric Fish Use to Collectively Sense the World

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    Neuroscientist Nathan Sawtell has spent a lot of time studying the electric elephantnose fish. These fish send and decipher weak electric signals, which Sawtell hopes will eventually help neuroscientists better understand how the brain filters sensory information about the outside world. As Sawtell has studied these electric critters, he's had a lingering question: why do they always seem to organize themselves in a particular orientation.

    Want to hear us cover more animal news? Email the show at shortwave@npr.org to let us know!

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    © NPRLength 9 min8 March 2024ScienceFactsEducationalUSAEpisodic

    Introducing Short Wave

    Introducing Short Wave

    This is an episodic podcast, so you can listen to it in any order, but episode one is a great place to start.

    Listen to episode one here
    11+ScienceFactsEducationalUSAEpisodic8 March 2024© NPR

    Neuroscientist Nathan Sawtell has spent a lot of time studying the electric elephantnose fish. These fish send and decipher weak electric signals, which Sawtell hopes will eventually help neuroscientists better understand how the brain filters sensory information about the outside world. As Sawtell has studied these electric critters, he's had a lingering question: why do they always seem to organize themselves in a particular orientation. At first, he couldn't figure out why, but a new study released this week in Nature may have an answer: the fish are creating an electrical network larger than any field a single fish can muster alone, and providing collective knowledge about potential dangers in the surrounding water.

    Want to hear us cover more animal news? Email the show at shortwave@npr.org to let us know!

    Listen to Short Wave on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

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