The Octopus Touch: Tasting in the Deep

A look inside the science behind Meta's Neural Band, a wearable device that decodes muscle activity to control digital devices. We'll explore how surface electromyography (sEMG), neural networks, and massive data collection helped create a model that generalizes across thousands of users. From noisy wrist signals to real-time control, we dive deep into the recent Nature publication that the Meta Neural Band builds on.

How do octopus arms sense and taste the world? In this recently published study in the summer of 2025 from the Bellono Lab at Harvard University, titled "Environmental microbiomes drive chemotactile sensation in octopus", I'll dive deep in to findings, the experimental methods, and what it means for us to understand complex sensory systems. 

Animal models have been the backbone of neuroscience discoveries. This episode honors those animals and introduces the audience to the most commonly used animal models while also discussing how scientists are pushing towards a future away from animal use. You'll learn about the C. elegans, the fruit fly, zebra finch, the mouse, and the monkey and how they contribute to neuroscience research. 

Welcome to Mapa BrainLab, the neuroscience podcast where neuroscience meets storytelling. I'm Mayuri Patel, a neuroscientist, actor, and your guide through the latest discoveries in brain science. Every week, I break down a recently published neuroscience paper with engaging storytelling.  From fruit flies to brain implants, we explore how experiments straight from the lab are expanding our understanding of the brain. Whether you're a student, scientist, or just brain-curious, you'll walk away with a greater appreciation for the inner workings of every neuroscience discovery. New episodes every week. You can find the full publications and additional content on www.mapabrain.com. Subscribe now and join the lab!