Cuttlefish Demonstrate Self Control in Delayed Gratification Test

Common cuttlefish show delayed gratification in a task modeled on a child test, revealing cognitive skills in a predator with no social life.

Cuttlefish Demonstrate Self Control in Delayed Gratification Test

A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows six common cuttlefish passing a delayed gratification task modeled on the Stanford marshmallow test. The animals learned to recognize symbols indicating immediate versus delayed rewards and chose to wait for a more desirable food when given the option. The test revealed that the cuttlefish waited up to 130 seconds for live shrimp instead of taking a smaller prize, suggesting planning and self control.

The researchers note that cuttlefish are solitary hunters, yet they display cognitive skills that align with behavioral flexibility and planning. The findings support the idea that intelligent traits can evolve in non social species, possibly linked to their ambush hunting style and the need to optimize prey selection. The study also connects this result to broader cephalopod cognition, including episodic like memory and potential false memories, underscoring a diverse landscape of intelligence in the ocean.

These results challenge the assumption that complex thinking follows a single path tied to social living. A predator that spends much time camouflaged could benefit from waiting for a better moment to strike, a signal that cognitive evolution can chase efficiency rather than social status. Yet the small sample size and lab like conditions invite caution about generalizing to wild populations. If further work confirms these patterns, it could reshape how we value cephalopod habitats and push policymakers to consider their cognitive lives in conservation plans.

Highlights

The ocean keeps its own mind and science will keep listening