In fact the only other bit of language I use in talking ’bout perceptual abnormalities is an oneiroid state of a dreamy state when there’s a propensity for abnormal percepts.

Let’s assume that the rat having eaten the omega-3 less diet actually does find it more difficult to do the task. It does not necessarily follow that the same holds for humans. Also we’re only talking about one rat here and the experiment would have to be repeated many times to make the finding robust.

I should say though that I don’t know much about this sort of thing, but I do know that the gold standard way of establishing whether omega-3 rich diets are beneficial would be to do a control trial of some sort, which to the best of my knowledge has not been done.

It isn’t really helped by the fact that rat number two looks clearly disorientated. It keeps on attempting to swim out of the basin and consequently hits the rim at full speed, face first. It looks to me like it has been spun around before entering the water. Surely if that rat was fully orientated (even if deficient in Omega 3s) it would have stopped hurting itself after one or two attemps? It’s co-ordination is bizarre.

Susan, I watched that video. It was interesting, but I don’t really see what it has to do with illness. Presumably, whilst Omega 3 can improve normal funtioning it’s fairly unlikely to sort out some poor individual who is hallucinating?

Although if the individual’s hallucinations made them suddenly fancy a dip in some cold water I’m sure a good dose of Omega 3 would help them swim to shore in record time, and utilising the fastest possible route.

We should give it to cross channel swimmers.