Researchers at Dartmouth College found that octopuses can use mirrors to locate hidden prey in laboratory experiments [1].
This discovery suggests that octopuses possess a level of spatial cognition and problem-solving ability previously underestimated in invertebrates. By understanding how these animals perceive and interact with reflected images to navigate their environment, scientists can better map the evolution of intelligence.
The findings were published this month in the journal Current Biology [1]. The study focused on how octopuses navigate complex environments to find food. During the experiments, the animals were presented with mirrors that allowed them to see prey that was otherwise hidden from their direct line of sight [1].
Rather than reacting to the mirror as a physical barrier or a social competitor, the octopuses used the reflection as a tool for navigation. This behavior indicates a capacity for spatial reasoning, the ability to translate a two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional action in their physical space [1].
Cephalopods have long been known for their intelligence and adaptability. The dossier notes the famous escape of Inky the octopus in 2016 [1], which highlighted the species' ability to navigate unfamiliar environments and solve problems to achieve freedom.
By comparing these results with other cognitive tests, the Dartmouth team aims to determine if this mirror-guided navigation is a learned behavior or an innate trait. The ability to use an external tool to gain information about a hidden target is a hallmark of advanced cognitive processing [1].
“Octopuses can use mirrors to locate hidden prey, demonstrating spatial cognitive abilities.”
The ability of octopuses to utilize mirrors for navigation suggests that complex cognitive functions, such as spatial mapping and tool-like use of the environment, are not exclusive to mammals or birds. This research challenges traditional views on the development of intelligence and suggests that convergent evolution has led to high-level problem-solving capabilities in the molluscan lineage.
