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

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.

Lesson by Jaap de Roode, animation by Andrew Foerster.

[NichoTBE]

im going to use that one in court one day.. "my actions were not my own, half the species on the earth are parasites."

[inkedseahear]

This is a horrifying topic, but the animations make it look so relaxing

[jonaza]

Yeah, it's really tragic; I was infected with Parasitis Procastinatis when I was a young child. It's really taken a toll on my life :(

[NoNo-nztb]

Me and the bois changing our hosts lives

[a-bird-lover]

What if procrastination was a parasite's fault? I would have so many excuses...

[madisdeadchannel]

I have a fear of parasites and THIS IS TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

[Tippex_Official]

This video has inspired me to make a science fiction book about scientists discovering that every personality trait of people is from different parasites control the host’s brain.

It’s an idea. Not specifically a good one but still an idea.

[abelyurianda]

*So then.. WHO IS CONTROLLING THE PARASITES ?!?*

[whatofitcosmos]

Perhaps there's a parasite that causes you to click on YouTube videos until you're so deep into videos you're watching the weirdest things.

[pretzelsings]

This could have easily became an Inside out thing.
"Do you look at someone and wonder "what is going on in their head? That's where we come in. Hi, I'm Joy. I kinda run the place. Oh and that's Gregordian worm, plasmodium, rabies, ophiocodryceps, and toxoplasma.

[doggoboihour]

Mosquito: I’m gonna give ya mal-

Me: *wack*

[MuonRay]

These animations are hilarious! They really nail the whole notion of kinetic humor. Fact filled too. Very enjoyable content!

[amirb]

I am a veterinárian and have studied parasitology. The comentator made it more interesting than my genius professor.

[AkidsukiLeader]

Poor Mr. Mouse was simply extending his polite salutations...

[Local_Seagul]

Thumbnail: meet the parasites
My theater brain: meet the plastics

[legotoolboxtheepic]

0:20 Woah! Patrick, you really let go of yourself.

[YolaroozXD]

-A creature manages to make you it's host and starts growing inside you
-It controlls your body to feed it nutrients
-You often crave certain food that contains alot of calories
-It uses you to get rid of it's waste so you have to go to the bathroom more often
-You start noticing something growing and moving under your skin
-It controls your brain and makes you feel an obligation to take care of it by staying healthy
-After months of having to carry it you start feeling pain coming from your lower abdomen
-Creature slowly and painfully comes out through your genital
-It's a boy!
-Manipulates you to give it food, clean it's feses and buy it all the godamn pokemon cards

[BernadetteRTI]

Cats have already infected the Internet

[kelliebriseno]

The cat sitting on the toilet scrolling through Instagram had me laughing so hard!!

[cal]

Dude this really solves a case I had way back when my cat killed a cricket. We were calm since it's was just a cricket but then smth literally wriggled out of it when my cat killed it too. I think it was that Gordian worm but we panicked and wondered how it came out of a cricket-