Skip to main content

How brain parasites change their host's behavior - Jaap de Roode

4,676,807 Views

15,404 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

The biggest challenge in a parasite’s life is to move from one host to another. Intriguingly, many parasites have evolved the ability to manipulate the behavior of their hosts to improve their own survival -- sometimes even by direct brain control. Jaap de Roode details a few parasites that can really mess with the mind.

Suppose you did an experiment in which you gave uninfected rats and rats infected with Toxoplasma a choice between hiding places sprinkled with the urine of cats and rabbits. Which of the following results would you expect to observe?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Jaap de Roode
  • Animation Artist Andrew Foerster
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from Awesome Nature