Tropical OctopusAbdopus aculeatusCan Learn to Recognize Real and Virtual Symbolic Objects

Abstract

We used three consecutive operant conditioning tasks to determine whether the tropical octopus Abdopus aculeatus is able to learn to recognize a symbolic object, in either real or virtual forms. In Experiment 1, we examined whether octopuses can be conditioned to a real object (a white ball) and whether such trained individuals can select the conditioned object when they are presented with an unconditioned object. We show that octopuses learned to respond to and select the conditioned white ball in preference to the unconditioned object. In Experiment 2, we examined whether octopuses can be conditioned to an object that gradually changes from real to virtual (i.e., an image of that object on a computer screen). We presented four types of objects, all variations of a white ball, in a stepwise sequence as a conditioned stimulus: a real white ball, a real image of a white ball without a margin, a real image of a white ball centered within a black margin, and a virtual image of a white ball (a video on a computer screen). Individual octopuses learned to respond to all three real objects, and then a subset of these octopuses responded to the virtual object. In Experiment 3, we examined whether an octopus can learn a virtual image of an object with a specific shape not tested in Experiments 1 and 2. We presented octopuses with an image of a white cross, which was placed at various distances (i.e., close, medium, and far). We found that after having learned these images, octopuses could learn the virtual white cross on a computer screen. Furthermore, when we simultaneously presented octopuses with a conditioned virtual object and an unconditioned virtual object, they selected the former. Through these three experiments, we confirmed that A. aculeatus can learn both real and virtual specific objects.

Comparative brain structure and visual processing in octopus from different habitats

“…3,7 Apart from a few studies focused on the diurnal and partially social species (e.g., A. aculeatus and O. cyanea), 35,37,39,53 our current knowledge around octopus behavior and cognitive ability is mainly based on those predominantly nocturnal and asocial species with the 5-gyrus VL (e.g., O. vulgaris and O. bimaculoides). 10,21,25,55,[106][107][108][109] The 5-gyrus VL could contain approximately 13% of CNS nervous cells to form what has been called ''the fan-out fan-in neural network'' in charge of visual and tactile learning and memory along with other cognitive activities. 10,11,21,25,28,41,44,45,49,56 Recently, Shigeno and Ragsdale 15 demonstrated heterogeneities of neurochemical distribution patterns in the 5-gyrus VL where the transmitter 5-HT was found mainly in neurons of the two lateral gyri.…”

Children of time: the geological recency of intelligence and its implications for SETI

“…Cuttlefish possess a sense of numerosity (Yang and Chiao, 2016) and can delay gratification to reap higher-quality future rewards, a putative invertebrate unicum (Schnell et al, 2021). Octopi have been shown to solve puzzles by 'insight' (Richter et al, 2016), possess strong memory-based navigation (Mather and O'Dor, 1991) and physical intelligence (Fiorito et al, 1990;Borrelli et al, 2020) and recognize both real and virtual objects (Kawashima et al, 2020). Some may engage in social learning (Amodio and Fiorito, 2013).…”