Experimental evidence for spatial learning in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis).

Abstract

Laboratory mazes were used to study spatial-learning capabilities in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), using escape for reinforcement. In preliminary observations, cuttlefish in an artificial pond moved actively around the environment and appeared to learn about features of their environment. In laboratory experiments, cuttlefish exited a simple alley maze more quickly with experience and retained the learned information. Similar improvement was not found in open-field mazes or T mazes, perhaps because of motor problems. Cuttlefish learned to exit a maze that required them to find openings in a vertical wall. The wall maze was modified to an arena, and simultaneous discrimination learning and reversal learning were demonstrated. These experiments indicate that cuttlefish improve performance over serial reversals of a simultaneous, visual-spatial discrimination problem.

Distribution of oxytocin-like and vasopressin-like immunoreactivities within the central nervous system of the cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis

“…These molluscs have been extensively studied over the last few decades for their remarkable behavioral abilities and, particularly, for their learning performances, which can rival those of many vertebrates (Hanlon and Messenger 1996). For example, cephalopods have been shown to make detours (Wells 1964) and can perform more complex tasks such as reversal learning (Mackintosh and Mackintosh 1964), observational learning (Fiorito and Scotto 1992;Boal 1996), and spatial learning (Mather 1991;Boal et al 2000;Karson et al 2003;Alves et al 2007). Taking their evolutionary background into account, cephalopods are of obvious interest for comparative studies, which are essential for investigating general and/or species-specific properties in neural system processes that mediate complex behaviors (Hochner et al 2006).…”

Short-distance navigation in cephalopods: a review and synthesis

“…This result was interpreted as demonstrating exploratory learning in octopuses. In a more recent investigation, preliminary tests undertaken by Karson et al (2003) strongly suggested that the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis also moved around a new environment to learn about its features. These data bring the first evidence of a natural propensity in cephalopods to explore their environment; such behaviour is usually considered as a natural manifestation of spatial learning (Gallistel 1993;O'Keefe and Nadel 1978).…”

“…Octopuses quickly learned the location of the open burrow (i.e., improved performances after only three trials), and were able to remember the location for a week. In a more recent study, Karson et al (2003) addressed whether cuttlefish, S. officinalis, also display good maze learning abilities in a visual-spatial discrimination task. The authors trained cuttlefish to exit a round arena with two exit holes surrounded by visual cues, only one exit hole being opened.…”

The Evolution of Flexible Behavioral Repertoires in Cephalopod Molluscs

“…Cuttlefishes appear to arrange more than one beacon in a chain and then follow the beacons in a certain order to a goal [Alves et al, 2007]. Karson et al [2003] and Alves et al [2007] ( table 1 ) found cuttlefishes can switch their response tactics to find a goal (a hiding spot), thus demonstrating flexibility in solving a complex, ecologically relevant problem. Alves et al [2007] manipulated the presence of local cues or distal cues in a maze.…”