Visual discrimination and memory of Enteroctopus dofleini, the Giant Pacific Octopus

This study evaluated the memory and visual discrimination capabilities of Enteroctopus dofleini, the Giant Pacific Octopus. Octopuses have been known to have advance sensory capabilities and through this study we challenged our specimen to remember and actively choose a specific patterned jar based on a visual pattern and positive reinforcement. The results of this study could be used to compare the learning capabilities and visual discrimination skills of this species of octopus to other cephalopods that have been previously studied. Daily trials were conducted using differently patterned jars with one containing food to act as positive reinforcement for the octopus opening a specific patterned jar. The jars were floated in the tank in random order and the time was recorded for how long it took the octopus to make a definite grab onto a specific jar. After obtaining all our data, we ran a T-test as well as ANOVA statistical tests with a Tukey comparison in Minitab to determine if our results were significant. The data collected in this study did not support the original hypothesis that octopuses are capable of visual discrimination and memory, but it did support the assertion that they are able to learn new tasks. To our knowledge the specimen we worked with had never opened a screw top lid on a jar and by the end of this experiment it was able to do it quickly and efficiently. Caution is advised when using these results until further testing can be completed and more data collected. Given the small amount of data collected, additional trials and testing would benefit this study greatly as well as using more consistent testing methods to eliminate human error