Insane in the Chromatophores

During experiments on the axons of the longfin squid in Woods Hole, we were taken in by the beauty of the fast changing color of the skin. The squid's skin contains many colorful light-reflecting cells called chromatophores. We wanted to try to stimulate the fin nerve directly from our iPod. The results were both interesting and beautiful. The video is a view through an 8x microscope zoomed in on the dorsal side of the squid's fin. We used a suction electrode to stimulate the fin nerve.