On a recent ocean excursion, Stanford researchers were surprised by a massive literally surprise while in the ocean. Sharks are known as “the tax men” by ocean fishermen. In an effort to collect footage of great white sharks for a virtual reality project about fear, the team led by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman collected the most intense footage unintentionally with Michael Muller.
“We wanted tuna for our dinner, and we had one on the line,” wrote Huberman in an Instagram post. “We were expecting a meal. A local great white reminded us that when they are around, humans eat last. However, the reward of seeing it breach was greater than the meal we would’ve had.”
While I wouldn’t call the experience a “reward” if I were on the boat, it is quite an impressive sight. A deck mate was hand-lining a last bit of fishing line when a gigantic great white shark leapt out of the water inches from him with a large bluefin tuna in its jaws. The footage concludes with the shark thrashing the water and eating the tuna while the folks on the boat watch helplessly. Check it out below.
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“Being in pursuit of something and especially, being right on the cusp of obtaining a reward is a very strong stimulus for dopamine release in the brain. But perhaps the greatest stimulus of all for dopamine release is when that is followed by positive surprise,” explained Huberman, who did not disclose the location of the incident. “I’ll also never forget that incident because when we get a big and unexpected release of dopamine, it leaves an indelible mark on our memory.”
If I ever encounter a great white shark, I hope to be on a boat much larger than Huberman’s. In accordance with Oceana, great white sharks can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh more than 6,000 pounds. According to the International Shark Attack File, they are responsible for the majority of shark attacks on humans.
Sources: Fieldandstream
