This text explores the concept of extended cognition in spiders and other animals. It discusses the idea that a spider’s web is not just a tool, but an extension of its cognitive system. The text also mentions examples of embodied cognition in octopuses and other animals, where cognitive tasks are distributed throughout the body rather than being solely processed in the brain. The text highlights the ongoing debate among scientists and philosophers regarding the interpretation of spider behavior and the definition of cognition. Overall, it suggests that the study of extended cognition in animals offers valuable insights into their problem-solving abilities and adaptations.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orb spiders changing their web strategy | Change in web-building strategy | Spider webs become more versatile | Problem-solving and efficiency |
| Spider’s web as an extension of cognition | Expansion of cognitive system to include web | Increased understanding of animal cognition | Need for problem-solving |
| Animals using embodied cognition | Cognitive tasks extend into the body | Greater understanding of animal cognition | Efficiency and adaptation |
| Sensory systems tailored to environment | Relevance-based tuning of sensory systems | Improved efficiency in animal perception | Adaptation to environment |
| Offloading mental tasks to external structures | Cognitive tasks performed outside of neural system | Improved efficiency and information processing | Efficiency and adaptation |
| Evolutionary response to brain constraint | Evolutionary tricks to overcome brain size constraint | Increased understanding of evolutionary adaptations | Efficiency and adaptation |
| Interplay between spider and web | Interaction between spider and web | Deeper understanding of problem-solving | Efficiency and adaptation |
| Controversy surrounding extended cognition | Debate over interpretation of spider behavior | Increased scientific investigation | Need for understanding |
| Empirical challenges of extended cognition | Difficulty in proving the concept | Need for empirical evidence | Need for proof |
| Niche construction and extended cognition | Building structures as an extension of cognition | More species considered for extended cognition | Evolution and adaptation |
| Extended phenotype vs extended cognition | Different perspectives on spider webs | Exploration of spider web functionality | Understanding spider behavior |
| Humans as the strongest case for extended cognition | Humans as a system with integrated nonbiological components | Exploration of human cognition in relation to external factors | Advancements in technology |