News & Media

May 2009
Director's Corner: Bubbles as weapons, tools and toys

We all find amusing the occasional animal that responds to human contact by mimicking what we do, or taking instruction. So, we have been treated to elephants that paint, tightrope-walking chickens, rodeo horses that can gallop forward, stop on a dime, and sashay sideways, and most recently, Snowball the Cockatoo who rhythmically bops to the Backstreet Boys*. No kidding.

Amusing, yes; fascinating, no. Much more interesting are those creatures that exhibit complex behaviors that we can immediately appreciate, products of evolving in secret over millions of years beneath the ocean, in the complete absence of human contact.

First, there is the Tiger Pistol shrimp*. Many species of these diminutive arthropods live symbiotically with Watchman Goby fish. One shrimp and its "business partner" Goby share a single burrow. The Goby stands guard at the opening, and by wiggling it's tail, warns the Pistol shrimp of approaching danger...or prey...

Now the shrimp has one immensely powerful claw that is disproportionally enlarged, and is geared to be cocked back, and explosively "fired." What is produced is a cavitation bubble - a sudden vacuum - not unlike the vacuum produced in air by a lightening bolt. In air, the thunder we hear is an implosion - the collapse of this vacuum; the collision of air molecules as they slam back into each other at supersonic speed. Underwater, the effect is most devastating because of the increased density of water as a medium. Properly aimed, the shrimp's bubble "cannon" (it is much more than a bullet) can render a nearby organism helpless; they appear "tasered," and are then easy to capture and eat. Goby and Pistol both benefit from their association.

And consider the humpback whale*. These mammals travel in pods that hunt collectively by encircling schools of fish, each whale occupying the same position in the circle. Some pod members vocalize, drawing the school into a smaller volume. They then simultaneously dive, maintaining the ring, and as they synchronously shoot back to the surface, they release a curtain of bubbles through which the fish will not pass. The whales ascend rapidly within the bubble net; their coordination is stunning, and few fish escape being sucked into their gigantic mouths...

But the best is for last.

At certain aquaria around the world dolphins have been observed blowing bubbles that resemble underwater smoke rings*. The bubbles are thin doughnut shapes, and the dolphins are clearly playing with them, shaping them, cutting into them and reforming them via pushing the bubble rings along with their snouts, and by critically-aimed sonar pulses. With their Mona Lisa smiles, it looks like that there is nothing more in this behavior than some very enjoyable play. Watching them, however, I do feel kind of wistful, I must admit.

Why so? Our civilization would certainly have developed very differently had we had an equally intelligent species to communicate with as we evolved. It would have been interesting to co-develop as intelligent species alongside the Cetaceans. They have very large brains, a sophisticated language structure, and extraordinarily complex, non-human driven individual and collective behaviors. The problem is that they originated as land-dwellers who returned to the sea some 50 million years ago, which sealed their fate in terms of becoming "equal" organisms to us on this planet. It was not to be. Evolving underwater, they had neither the hands to shape tools nor fire to forge them.

Otherwise, what might have been?

*Links -
Snowball
Pistol shrimp
Bubble net
Dolphins

Please send any comments about the Director's Corner to David Colman

Upcoming Events

Neuro Convocation, May 7
The MNI community will celebrate the superlative accomplishments at the Neuro Convocation on May 7 with Lifetime Achievement Awards going to Michel Aube, neurologist and inspiring teacher; Christopher Thompson, medical physicist and inventor; and The Killam Trusts, which promotes advanced study in Canada by supporting the MNI and 4 universities as Killam Institutions. Eric Shoubridge, an expert in molecular genetics of mitochondrial diseases, will receive the Established Investigator Award, and The Neuro Intensive Care Unit will be recognized with the Outstanding Team Award. All are welcome to attend the ceremony at 3 pm in the Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre. A reception will follow.

Annual Brenda Milner Lecture, May 11
MNI faculty and trainees will honor Brenda Milner on Neuropsychology Day, May 11 with posters on current research in cognitive neuroscience presented by faculty and trainees from 2-4 pm in the Timmins Foyer. Mortimer Mishkin, Senior Investigator in Neuropsychology at the US National Institutes of Mental Health, whose friendship with Milner dates from their McGill graduate school days with D.O. Hebb, will deliver the 12th annual Brenda Milner Lecture entitled “Auditory memory and speech: How deep is their connection” at 4:30 pm in the MNI’s Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre.

Neuroscience Poster Day, May 22
Students studying neuroscience will display posters about their research on Neuroscience Poster Day, May 22 from 9 am – 5 pm in the MNI’s Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre. Top posters will receive cash prizes at this event organized by the Graduate Students Association for Neuroscience with support from AstraZeneca. Stop by for some stimulating science conversation.

Multiple Sclerosis research update: Public lecture and tour, May 26
MS expert and neurologist Amit Bar-Or will explain the Neuro’s current research on multiple sclerosis at a public lecture in the de Grandpré Communications Centre at the Montreal Neurological Institute (3801 University Street) on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 from 6-7 pm. Guided tours of the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre and research laboratories will be offered from 7-7:30 pm, and refreshments will be served. This event is free of charge but reservations are required. To reserve, contact Josee Della Rocca at 514-398-1851.

Recent Events

Michel Aubé honoured by Quebec neurologists
Michel Aubé, outstanding neurologist and teacher, has been selected for the 2009 Prix Reconnaissance from the Québec Association of Neurologists (ANQ) for his active role in the association, high standards in clinical practice and exceptional contribution to training new neurologists. He will receive this well deserved honour at the ANQ meeting in September.

Thinking about music
MNI cognitive neuroscientist Robert Zatorre helped Orchestra I Medici di McGill celebrate its 20 anniversary by delivering the Biology of Music lecture, “Music in the brain: Hard wired or hard work?” Zatorre enlightened the audience on how the brain changes as musicians gain expertise and discussed music as a unique vehicle to study cognition. The lecture enhanced the experience of hearing beautiful renditions of work by Haydn and Brahms, and made for a memorable evening.

My Toolbox: self-management of chronic disease
Mario DiCarlo and Louisa Nicole, patients at the Neuro and Master Trainers in the My Toolbox program, and Deborah Radcliffe-Branch, Director of My Toolbox, delivered the keynote address at “le 2eme rendez-vous de la gestions des maladie chronique: de las prevention au suivi.” They highlighted the role of the Neuro in bringing this useful self-management program to people dealing with chronic diseases. For more information, see My Toolbox.

Historical collections at the Neuro Library
What fueled the vision, passion and intellect of Dr. Wilder Penfield's (1891-1976) pioneering mind? Discover the private book and journal collection of Dr. Penfield, explore his interests and the evolution of his thought at the Neuro Library. The private collections of Dr. Herbert Jasper (1910-2002) and Dr. Joseph Stratford (1923-2007) and other interesting materials are also available thanks to support from the MNI’s Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research Award, and the hard work and dedication of the Library team. Learn more by visiting the Library Web site.

Neuro Annual Fund
The Annual Fund does many things - helps purchase laboratory equipment, specially designed equipment to increase patient safety and comfort. It allows nurses and students to get specialized training and present their research at international conferences. Importantly, this fund helps leverage other donations and is a critical source of support. Your donation is more important than ever. If you have not already renewed your annual donation, please do so before May 31, 2009 by clicking here or simply by contacting Véronique Geoffrion at 514-398-2274.

Congratulations to ...

Kappy Flanders, McGill Governor Emerita and former member of the MNI’s Advisory Board, who will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from McGill University for her significant volunteer activities, which include establishing the McGill Mini-Med series and the Montreal area Council on Palliative Care.

Director - David R. Colman, PhD
Senior Management - Mark Angle, MD; Phil Barker, PhD; Rob Dunn, PhD; Tom Gevas; Martine Alfsono; Elizabeth Kofron, PhD; Patricia O'Connor; Catherine Rowe; Donatella Tampieri, MD
Neuro News: Elizabeth Kofron, PhD & Sandra McPherson, PhD

Please send any items for the Neuro News to Sandra McPherson or Beth Kofron.