How do we know whales and dolphins are conscious breathers?

The answer goes back to some very controversial research by a scientist, Dr. John C. Lilly, back in the 1950's. Lilly was a brain researcher at Johns Hopkins who studied animals' brains by implanting electrodes in them. This was typically done with the subject under general anesthesia. read more

The answer goes back to some very controversial research by a scientist, Dr. John C. Lilly, back in the 1950’s. Lilly was a brain researcher at Johns Hopkins who studied animals’ brains by implanting electrodes in them. read more

Dolphins cannot sleep in this way, they have to remain conscious, even when they are sleeping. This is because their breathing is not automatic, it is consciously controlled. In other words dolphins have to actively decide when to breath, and so they must be continually conscious to breath. read more

Humans, of course, can breathe while the conscious mind is asleep; our subconscious mechanisms have control of this involuntary system. But equipped with a voluntary respiratory system, whales and dolphins must keep part of the brain alert to trigger each breath. read more