Main steps

Steps 1

Evaluation of the emotional profiles of the two species after the individuals have been confronted with “positive” (new prey) or “negative” (predator odor) situations.
ETHiCS aims to describe the emotional behaviors (“positive” and “negative”) of individuals, to assess their optimism (through cognitive bias) and to measure the level of different monoamines in their hemolymph. The goal is to establish an emotional profile in both species. These profiles are expected to be predictive of the well-being of individuals.

Steps 2

Measurement of the emotion induced by a dilemma. The animal may find itself in a situation of discomfort after having to choose between two objects with positive valence. This simple and original test, with an evaluation of the emotional state of the animal will be able to determine if a cuttlefish is able to mentally represent the consequences of a behavior that it has not produced (take the object which was not chosen). The emotional evaluation will therefore be able to highlight the capacities of primary consciousness (phenomenological) in the two species.

Steps 3

Weight of individual / species stories in emotional characteristics. This WP aims to study the emotional traits in individuals of both species when raised in different conditions (uncomfortable / intermediate / comfortable). By comparing environmental sensitivity in the two species, we will be able to assess the relative weights of individual and species history in the emotional profile. These questions are the basis of ethology.

Expected results

ETHiCS will bring new tools to estimate the level of well-being of cephalopods in captivity, thus information for the regulations in each country concerned. In particular on the effects of enriching the breeding environment. This project will also provide valuable data on emotions in invertebrates, their causes, effects, functions and consequences on the subjective experience of individuals. The comparative study of French and Asian species will provide a better understanding of the evolutionary roots of emotion and consciousness in animals, a fundamental problem in the biological sciences, bioethics, law and epistemology.