Are You Smarter Than: A Cuttlefish?
Instant gratification: it’s a rush of endorphins and neural activity that can make even the most driven person make questionable choices—but could you delay your gratification as well as a child or a cuttlefish? You read that right; a cognitive test designed to measure the ability of a child to delay gratification has now been passed by a cephalopod, perhaps putting us all to shame.
The popular marshmallow test was a test designed to see if children could be left alone with a marshmallow by Stanford researchers in the 1970s. Children were told that if they waited 15 minutes and did not eat the marshmallow as soon as they were unsupervised that they would be rewarded for waiting by getting two marshmallows.
Marshmallow Test Explored Further
Since its inception, researchers have applied this test to other species to investigate how different animals process information about food, particularly food planning. It’s a special ability that we humans have—or so we thought! Subsequent marshmallow tests proved that other primates, birds, and dogs can pass the marshmallow test, turning our marshmallows into humble pie.
When you test a creature not engaged in social groups, what are the outcomes? Enter the cuttlefish, a loner cephalopod. In a customized version of the marshmallow test, cuttlefish relied on visual information from symbols on doors which either opened to a better treat at 10 seconds, 130 seconds, or a symbol that meant the door wouldn’t open at all.
Researchers offered cuttlefish a prawn and the opportunity to win a favored shrimp behind a subsequently opening door. Two cuttlefish groups were studied: one had only immediate prawn access, while the other had a door-blocked prawn.
Cuttlefish Show Cognitive Abilities
Both groups underwent six daily training sessions to link visual stimuli with reward reinforcement. The group at the early door found a bigger treat behind a later one, waiting, unlike the untrained control group. What does this tell us? Cuttlefish passed the test through cognitive discernment and higher-level functioning, unlike those relying solely on instincts.
Learn from marine cognitive prowess in decision-making. Embrace your unique cognitive abilities for better choices. We’re in good company!
References
Schnell Alexandra K., Boeckle Markus, Rivera Micaela, et al. Cuttlefish exert self-control in a delay of gratification task. Proc. R. Soc. 2021. B.288: 2020316120203161 http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.3161
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