# drugs: how to socialize octopuses (O. bimaculoides)

<< By studying the genome of a kind of octopus not known for its friendliness toward its peers, then testing its behavioral reaction to a popular mood-altering drug called MDMA or "ecstasy," scientists say they have found preliminary evidence of an evolutionary link between the social behaviors of the sea creature and humans, species separated by 500 million years on the evolutionary tree. >>

<< What our studies suggest is that certain brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, that send signals between neurons required for these social behaviors are evolutionarily conserved. >> Gul Dolen

Octopuses given mood drug 'ecstasy' reveal genetic link to evolution of social behaviors in humans. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Sept 20, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-octopuses-mood-drug-ecstasy-reveal.html

Eric Edsinger, Gul Dolen. A Conserved Role for Serotonergic Neurotransmission in Mediating Social Behavior in Octopus. Curr Biol. Sep 20, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.061 

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(18)30991-6