14 Surprising Things Scientists Are Learning About Octopus Intelligence

5. Observational Learning: The Copycat Cephalopods

One of the most surprising discoveries about octopus intelligence is their remarkable ability to learn through observation, a cognitive skill that was once thought to be primarily limited to social vertebrates. Researchers have documented numerous instances of octopuses watching and then mimicking the behaviors of both their own species and other marine creatures. In controlled experiments, octopuses have been shown to learn complex tasks simply by observing other octopuses perform them, often mastering the behavior in a single viewing. This observational learning extends beyond simple mimicry to include understanding the underlying principles of observed actions. For instance, when octopuses watch another individual use a tool to extract food from a container, they don't just copy the exact movements—they adapt the technique to their own physical capabilities and the specific tools available to them. Perhaps most remarkably, octopuses have been observed learning from species entirely different from themselves, including fish and crustaceans, suggesting a sophisticated ability to extract useful information from any behavioral model. Recent studies using high-speed cameras have revealed that octopuses pay particular attention to the outcomes of observed behaviors, focusing their attention on successful strategies while ignoring unsuccessful ones. This selective attention during observational learning indicates a level of cognitive sophistication that allows them to efficiently extract relevant information from their environment and apply it to novel situations.