Headless Brittle Stars: Learning Without a Brain

Brittle stars, brainless marine creatures related to starfish, have been found to learn through experience, challenging our understanding of learning and intelligence. In a study, researchers demonstrated that brittle stars can associate darkness with feeding times through classical conditioning, similar to Pavlov's dogs. This learning capability was observed even without sensory cues like smell or taste. The findings suggest that even simple nervous systems can adapt and learn, expanding our understanding of intelligence in the animal kingdom.