Intelligence of small-brained invertebrates
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Student Summary By Hayden Byun
Original Source: Erin Garcia de Jesús, Science News, July 5, 2026
Abstract
Background: In the past, scientists had discovered that some animals such as parrots or chimpanzees are able to apply improvisational problem solving skills, or “spontaneous problem solving” when needed, and it had been established that only “large-brained vertebrates” possessed this ability. (It should be noted these animals had been under human care for some time and may have had previous experience with mentally challenging skills.) Formerly, invertebrates had never displayed any sign of this “spontaneous problem solving.”
Objective: Researchers were curious whether invertebrates were also capable of this “spontaneous problem solving,” specifically bumblebees. Prior studies had shown that bumblebees are very intellectually complex, demonstrating abilities such as learning through peers and even possibly emotional depth, making them ideal subjects for this experiment.
Method: (This experiment was an adaptation of the box-and-banana test conducted on chimpanzees.) Scientists placed the bees in a transparent structure containing a styrofoam ball, and an artificial flower with nectar in it. The testing environment was carefully designed to ensure that the study was accurately carrying out its intended purpose. The nectar was set up on the ceiling, and the container was built at a height low enough that the bees were unable to take flight to reach the nectar. In order to obtain the prize, or the nectar, the bees had to maneuver the foam ball, which they would need to climb on top of to reach the nectar. During the bees’ attempts with the puzzle, they received zero guidance, practice, or watch-and-learn demonstrations.
Results: 70% of the bees completed the task successfully. To be certain that the bees were truly planning their actions to reach a goal (the food) rather than simply finding the reward by accident and to eliminate the possible factor of sight, researchers hid the flower inside one of two rooms. The bees thrived even with this more involved assignment.
Conclusion: Overall, this study proves that specific invertebrates possess the cognitive capacity for spontaneous problem solving. This finding opposes the conventional idea that advanced thinking can only be done by large, vertebrate brains but is also possible by small-brained invertebrates. In the future, this discovery could improve our understanding of intelligence across various species and how different brain structures process information. Furthermore, as more information about their mental capabilities are uncovered, it could become easier to justify legal protections for their habitats.
