Octopuses are extraordinary creatures with a remarkable level of intelligence in the animal kingdom. In addition to their camouflage abilities and suction-cup-covered tentacles, they have three hearts and a curious way of “thinking” with their limbs.
In a fascinating 2019 study, researchers unveiled the astonishing ability of octopuses to make decisions autonomously using their tentacles. They trained octopuses to perform a task in which they had to choose between two objects of different colors, each linked to a food reward.
What truly astounded scientists was that, after several attempts, the octopuses began showing a preference for a particular color, demonstrating a form of “personal preference.” Researchers found that the octopus’s tentacles could independently make decisions, even without the direct engagement of the animal’s brain.
This discovery highlights the incredible complexity of octopus intelligence and raises questions about how these marine invertebrates possess such distributed and adaptable decision-making processes.