Citation

Author Website

https://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/research/groups/ccl/people

Thread

Jennifer Mather, What is in an octopus's mind?

Abstract

Mather’s (2019) provocative claim that octopuses have a mind hinges on the inference that their striking behavioural flexibility is evidence of “complex” cognitive abilities. I discuss alternative explanations — not to deny the possibility of complexity but to point out that current evidence does not allow us to draw firm conclusions. Only an agnostic approach will lead to the systematic investigation of octopus behaviour and ultimately, greater insights into the cognitive capacities of these fascinating creatures.

Author Biography

Piero Amodio, PhD candidate in Psychology at the University of Cambridge, studies the evolution of complex cognition in corvids and cephalopods. He has worked with octopuses, Eurasian jays, and orang-utans. Website

DOI

10.51291/2377-7478.1507