Behavioral performance and changes in colour patterns of Octopus vulgaris during learning

In this thesis I search for the potential relationship between learning, behavioral performance and changes in textural and color patterns in Octopus vulgaris. In order to do so, I analysed the video recordings of 61 octopuses from a previous experiment (Luciana Borrelli, 2007) and their behavioral response to artificial balls (Preferences and Individual learning) with a focus on the type of attack, and chromatic and textural components expressed, during nine trials in which the animal was punished with an electric shock, a test ball of another color and a living prey (crab). The results show that octopuses were able to adjust and change their predatory behaviour as well as their expression of colour and texture showing a certain learning performance. The type of attack shifted from a majority of full attacks during the first trial (87% of the responses) to 77% of “no attack” responses during trial 9. We also observed a decrease of the diversity and number of chromatic and textural components exhibited during Training (T1-T9) This study aims to be a starting point for the understanding of the relationship between learning, behavioral performance and changes in textural and color patterns in Octopus vulgaris as bibliography researches demonstrated a clear gap of knowledge on this topic.