Cockroach as pet, why not?

wind2000 · Sep 28, 2007

Cockroaches mentally sluggish in the morning: study
Last Updated: Friday, September 28, 2007 | 12:16 PM ET
CBC News

Cockroaches, like humans, have dramatic daily variations in their ability to learn, say biologists at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

More pointedly, cockroaches could use a strong cup of coffee in the morning, but appear to need no boost in the evening, according to their study, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Professor Terry Page holds one of the cockroaches that he used in his research.
(Daniel Dubois, Vanderbilt University) "This is the first example of an insect whose ability to learn is controlled by its biological clock," Terry Page, professor of biological sciences, said in a release.

Most studies on learning and circadian rhythms have focused on mammals. For example, recent experiments with humans have found that people's ability to acquire new information is reduced when their biological clocks are disrupted.

In the current study, the researchers taught individual cockroaches to associate peppermint — a scent they normally find slightly distasteful — with sugar water, causing them to favour it over vanilla, a scent they like very much.

The researchers trained individual cockroaches at different times in the 24-hour day/night cycle and then tested them to see how long they remembered the association.

They found those trained in the evening retained the memory for several days. Those trained at night also had good retention. During the morning, however, when the cockroaches are least active, they were totally incapable of forming a new memory, although they could recall memories learned at other times.

"It is very surprising that the deficit in the morning is so profound," Page said. "An interesting question is why the animal would not want to learn at that particular time of day. We have no idea."

Learning more about how the biological clock modulates learning and memory may lead to a better understanding of what can influence them, said Page.
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http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/09/28/cockroaches.html

dim8sum · Sep 28, 2007

now they can learn and survive nuclear fallout... they will soon take over the world....

turbobenx · Sep 28, 2007

i hate insects. Especially mosquitos. Friggin annoying mosquito bites.

masjavv · Sep 28, 2007

If people can have ants as pets, no reason why we can't with cockroaches, or even mosquito or tick or fly.

Knoctur_nal · Sep 28, 2007

sure beats a pet rock.

uryu · Sep 28, 2007

can cockroach fly? im afraid things that flies >> even tho most crwaling things im not afraid of cuz its easy to kill

xmichelly · Sep 29, 2007

ew ew ew. I HATE bugs -sick2

xiaojia · Sep 29, 2007

uryu said: ↑

can cockroach fly? im afraid things that flies >> even tho most crwaling things im not afraid of cuz its easy to kill
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lol.. sounds like you haven't seen one..

goo wak jai · Sep 29, 2007

cockroaches as pets... screw that lol

happychic · Sep 29, 2007

Thats a really nasty thought - Cockroaces are disgusting I could imagine anyone having them as a pet

chickenutbread · Sep 29, 2007

hahaha. those professors can train them but i don't think i'll be able too. i wouldn't be able to resist the urge to smash em.

Taxloss · Sep 29, 2007

"An interesting question is why the animal would not want to learn at that particular time of day. We have no idea."
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Well I have an idea...that's because the nature giving the humans a chance to crush them to death in their weakest moments before they can take over the world.

philostrate · Sep 30, 2007

stephen chow's 'siu keong' is going to be the hype again!!

leehom · Sep 30, 2007

I read about this story too, and I must say that it was interesting reading about it here too. ;;

And I thought there were real instances of people keeping cockroaches as pets? Those large ones which make some kind of hissing sound...

Cockroach as pet, why not?

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