Dolphins Can Shut Off Half of Their Own Brains

Even what we do know about the oceans is quite astonishing, and there are still many mysteries that remain. Take a look at the timid dolphin. It has been demonstrated that this highly intelligent creature can perform some incredible feats, including as assisting humans in their fish-hunting efforts and saving people from shark attacks. But have you ever paused to consider how something as basic as napping is accomplished by a dolphin?

Like all mammals, dolphins require air to breathe. When you pass out in the middle of the ocean, how do you do that? Dolphins calculate things using fractions. They may individually turn off each hemisphere of their brains. That means that while the right half of their brain is awake and monitoring their safety, the left half may be sleeping.

In a very basic fashion, this enables them to continue swimming gently while dozing off while keeping one eye up. This is essential for new mothers as well, since a baby cannot stop swimming without sinking. The mother carries on swimming while towing the child in her slipstream. Humans breathe spontaneously, but dolphins actively control their breathing. People avoid suffocating in our sleep because of this. But in order to manage this behavior, a dolphin must always be at least partially conscious.

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Cetacea
Order: Cetaceans
Family: Delphinidae