trust it or not , there is such a matter known as “ amnesic mollusc poisoning ” . Eating the improper piece of shellfish — or once in a while just the incorrect anchovy — can make you lose your memory .
When you ’re an oyster , you ca n’t be picky about what you eat . So oysters and other mollusk comminute down diatom regularly . These tiny sea creatures have shell made of silica , and they ’re highly tough . But when the oysters eat the diatom Nitzschia navis - varingica they take in domoic battery-acid with no ill effects .
That ’s good for them , but not so good for us . Domoic acid can cumulate in their organisation , establish up until the mo they ’re roll out of the piddle by homo and eaten . Humans and other mammals are n’t able to shrug off the acid . In our brains , domoic acid binds to glutamate receptors , stimulating them . Glutamate runs a number of processes in the brain , so over - stimulating the receptors for it wrecks the body both physically and mentally .
Slight domoic Zen toxicity involve low spirit level nausea and diarrhea . If you get these after corrode domoic - acid - pollute shellfish , reckon yourself lucky . The next step up is confusion and hallucinations . Increase the dose any more and you get the symptom that gives domoic loony toons exposure the soubriquet “ amnesic shellfish poisoning . ” Glutamate receptors control learning and memory , so too much bad mollusk can give you impermanent amnesia . Yep , your memory can get temporarily pass over out just by eating the wrong flock of seafood .
And that ’s still not as severe as the syndrome get . Enough domoic acid can give people permanent mastermind damage , put them in a coma , or pour down them . There is n’t a live intervention for the poisoning , but getting to a hospital as before long as potential after it kicks in can countenance doctors manage the symptoms .
[ reference : Animal Madness , Domoic Acid Toxicity ]
image : USEPA Environmental - Protection - Agency .
NeuroscienceScience
Daily Newsletter
Get the in effect tech , scientific discipline , and civilisation newsworthiness in your inbox daily .
News from the future , deport to your present .
You May Also Like
