The sea squirt is a marine invertebrate that starts out with a primitive brain and nervous system. When young, the animal swims freely around the ocean, but eventually it finds a suitable rock, attaches itself, and stays there for the rest of its life.
Once it is settled, the sea squirt ingests its brain and nervous system. It does so because it is inefficient to maintain a brain and nervous system now that it is completely sedentary.
Columbia University neuroscientist Daniel Wolpert uses this example to drive home a simple point – directing movement is the most important function of the brain.
In other words, we are built to move.
(H/T: Built to Move by Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett – also H/T Hassan for the recommendation)
