Intelligence and cognition in Mollusks?
Abstract
Since antiquity, animal intelligence captivates, and causes strong debates between people interested in Nature. Ideological conflicts about mentalism in animals were radicalized at the beginning of the 20th century between the powerful school of reductionism in science and the evolutionary biologists. These lasts were, in some way, more likely to consider continuity in mind between humans and animals. In this confusing period of time for behavioural biologists, research on cephalopods* emerged, leading to fascinating discoveries. Octopus and cuttlefish show extraordinary learning skills and unique behavioural plasticity in invertebrates. Among others, these results have encouraged the scientific community to enlarge research on general cognition to these invertebrates. Cephalopod species are now the only invertebrates to be considered “sentient”; since 2013, they are protected by the European Directive on animal welfare for animal use in laboratory conditions. This talk will consider both the history of concepts in cognitive ethology and the evolution of the societal representation of cephalopods.