The Body That Thinks

On the third morning, Chiara put a small clear maze in the tank. There was crab meat at the centre. The way through had two right turns and a left turn.

På den tredje morgen lagde Chiara en lille gennemsigtig labyrint i tanken. Der var krabbekød i midten. Vejen igennem havde to højresving og et venstresving.

Pasta watched from her corner.

Pasta kiggede fra sit hjørne.

Pasta sent two arms toward the maze. Her body did not move. The arms went different ways. One went on top. One went inside.

Pasta sendte to arme mod labyrinten. Hendes krop bevægede sig ikke. Armene gik forskellige veje. Den ene gik ovenpå. Den anden gik indeni.

An octopus has many neurons. Two thirds of them are in the arms, not in the head. Each arm has its own nervous system. Each arm can solve a problem.

En blæksprutte har mange neuroner. To tredjedele af dem er i armene, ikke i hovedet. Hver arm har sit eget nervesystem. Hver arm kan løse et problem.

The first arm went through the maze. It turned at the corners. The second arm found a small gate. The first arm pushed from inside. The second arm pushed from outside. The gate opened.

Den første arm gik gennem labyrinten. Den drejede ved hjørnerne. Den anden arm fandt en lille låge. Den første arm skubbede indefra. Den anden arm skubbede udefra. Lågen åbnede sig.

The arm took the crab meat.

Armen tog krabbekødet.

Pasta had not moved her body.

Pasta havde ikke flyttet sin krop.

Chiara watched her video. "The arms got the food," she said. "Did the octopus solve the maze, or did the arms solve it? We do not know."

Chiara så sin video. "Armene fik fat i maden," sagde hun. "Løste blæksprutten labyrinten, eller gjorde armene det? Vi ved det ikke."

Polly looked at Pasta. The octopus pulled the crab meat to her beak.

Polly kiggede på Pasta. Blæksprutten trak krabbekødet til sit næb.