Reversal Learning in Octopus Vulgaris Lamarck with and without Irrelevant Cues

Abstract

Three groups of eight octopuses each were trained on a brightness discrimination and its reversal. Within each group half the animals were overtrained on the original problem and half were not. For Group I the discrimination was a simple one, for the other two groups irrelevant cues were introduced (for Group II position and for Group III orientation). It was found that the overtrained animals learnt the reversal significantly faster than the non-overtrained only where irrelevant cues were present (i.e. only in Groups II and III). The results are discussed in relation to various theories of discrimination reversal.