Scientists Find Squid Like Cypress Hill

Many cephalopods have the ability to quickly control and change their chromatophores, skin’s pigmented cells, to reflect light. Each chromatophore has tiny muscles that contract to reveal the pigment underneath.

Researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole attached a suction electrode to the squid’s fin nerve and connected the electrode to an iPod nano, which worked as a stimulator. The iPod plays music by converting digital music into a small current that is sent to magnets in the earphones; these are connected to cones, which vibrate and produce sound. In this experiment, the researchers removed the earbuds and placed the wire into the squid’s fin nerve. When the iPod sent bass frequencies (less than 100Hz), the axons had enough charge to fire an action potential. This caused the muscles in the chromatophores to contract, i.e. change colours.
This video is a view through an 8x microscope zoomed in on the dorsal side of the squid’s fin—and yes, the chromatopheres seem to be dancing. Insane :)

Insane in the Chromatophores from Backyard Brains on Vimeo.