The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

Athena’s replacement at the aquarium is a young octopus named Octavia. At Montgomery’s first visit, she brings along a friend, and at first Octavia doesn’t want anything to do with either of them—or with the food that Wilson offers her—so they leave her alone for a while. When they return, Octavia stretches out one arm toward the squid Wilson dangles before her. Wanting her friend to experience the touch, Montgomery has her reach toward the octopus as well. Human finger touches octopus arm, and both pull back instantly. Montgomery wonders why, surmising that Octavia might have tasted nicotine in the skin of her friend, a longtime smoker.

The second visit starts out equally unsuccessful, with Montgomery failing to coax Octavia from across the tank. Montgomery and Scott instead wander to another tank to look at the electric eel. The aquarium had set up a voltmeter above the tank that picked up the electric charge when the eel was hunting or stunning its victims, lighting up an attached bulb. Although the eel is asleep, the light was flashing. They realize that the eel is dreaming of hunting and thus sending out electricity.