Shark Repellent? Could Be Created Using Similarities Between Shark and Human Brains
Great White Shark: Photo credit: pterantula via photo pin cc
New research from the University of Western Australia (UWA) shows that shark brains are surprisingly similar to human brains. This discovery may help scientists create an effective shark repellent.
The research is published in several papers, all focusing on comparative and evolutionary research about the brains of sharks and their cartilaginous relatives, like rays and sawfish.
“The studies cover several areas of recent research and suggest that people may have more in common with sharks than we thought,” explained Dr. Kara Yopak from UWA’s Oceans Institute and the School of Animal Biology.
“One of the papers shows that with great white sharks, the area of the brain that receives visual input is quite large, and suggests the relative importance of vision in these animals is quite high,” said Dr. Yopak.
“This information may direct researchers’ efforts towards targeting the visual system when developing repellents for sharks.”
Sawfish. Photo credit: Matthew McDavitt, NMFS/NOAA.
To learn more:
- Read the full press release from UWA: Shark brain link with humans may help hunt for repellent
- You can find the papers, published in a special edition of Brain, Behavior and Evolution, here: The Nervous System of Cartilaginous Fishes
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