Hearing and the Octopus Statocyst

Abstract

1. A description is given of apparatus suitable for transmitting hydrodynamic sound waves within a rectangular tank. 2. Two types of training experiment for investigating hearing in Octopus are described, one using simple training to attack, the other training to attack with discrimination. 3. These results of the experiments, when expressed in latencies of attack on food, gave little evidence that the octopus was able to hear. 4. Some factors which might have influenced the results are discussed together with suggestions for any future investigations.