What do studies of animal cognition mean for ethics?

One of the most-viewed posts that I’ve written was about animal intelligence. I still maintain that the current mainstream view of animals is outdated and needs to recognise that non-human animals are, while not as intelligent as us, more intelligent than usually given credit for and, as fellow sentient creatures, deserving of moral protection. Currently, there is more and more scientific evidence being produced that supports intelligence in a wide range of species. I imagine resistance to these findings comes from a few sources such as many religions making an explicit separation between humans and animals (one which is not supported by biology), a lack of knowledge of studies of animal intelligence and a reluctance to acknowledge these findings as that would necessitate a complete overhaul of how we live our lives.

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Walking through a doorway makes you forget

It appears that you might create certain memories that are only kept for a short duration when they will be valuable. Once you leave a situation that memory gets wiped clean. Doorways may be a convenient signal that current memories (of whatever you are doing) will no longer be needed (in the new context, in another room). So, strange as it seems, walking through a doorway makes you forget.