Bugs In The Brain Analysis

In “Bugs in the Brain”, Robert Sapolsky makes the claim that more research is needed in order to gain a greater understanding of how the brain works and more importantly, to gain a greater understanding of how certain microorganisms change animals’ behaviors for their own benefits, such as reproduction and/or spreading to new hosts. He supports this claim mostly through the use of examples of these types of microorganisms. For example, he mentions mites that belong to the genus Anthennophorus, which ride on the backs of ants and stroke an ant’s mouthpart in order to make the ant disgorge food for the mite to feed on. Sapolsky also mentions the rabies virus, which causes its host to become aggressive in order to facilitate its spread