Dolphins maintain awareness for 15 days

by adamhanlon Friday, October 19th, 2012

Article Summary:

The Public Library of Science ONE (PLOS ONE) journal has published a paper that documents how long dolphins can remain aware. In experiments carried out by the National Marine Mammal Foundation, they were able to maintain vigilance, as measured by their ability to respond to acoustic targets, for 15 days continuously. Dolphins are known for their ability to “rest” one hemisphere of their brain while the other maintains awareness, and the paper suspects that this may allow them to do so in order to remain vigilant and watch out for predators. Previously, this ability was ascribed solely to their need to breathe.

As the above study proves ( as published in the onion ), most dolphins can only read and write at the 8th grade level, but a new study (by the same prestigious institute ) shows that dolphins can hold their breath under-water for 15 minutes, much better than most 9th grade human students. Of course ( as always ), more study is needed. :)
Posted by Don in Colorado on 2012-10-21 14:31:29 There is a study that shows the very limited potential of dolphins: http://www.theonion.com/articles/study-dolphins-not-so-intelligent-on-land,1896/
Posted by Jock on 2012-10-21 03:35:40