title: Neuroethology: self-recognition helps octopuses avoid entanglement.
abstract: How an octopus performs complex movements of its eight sucker-studded arms without entanglement has been a mystery. A new study has found that self-recognition of the octopus's skin by its suckers inhibits reflexive grasping of its own arms, simplifying the mechanisms needed to generate intricate arm behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030 USA.
authors.forename: Robyn J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Crook
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030 USA. Electronic address: Edgar.T.Walters@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Edgar T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Walters
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D049831:Octopodiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance