75227
Description
Cognitive Buffer Hypothesis
- The main function of a large brain is to buffer
individuals against environmental challenges by
facilitating a behavioural response
- Basically = provides flexibility in behaviour when facing changes in
the environment =easier learning allowing species to overcome
ecological challenges
- buffer should favour increase survival rates, longer
reproductive life compensating for the delayed
reproduction associated with growing a large brain
- large brains store, process and integrate more info about social and physical environment
- increased liklihood that modification of behaviours or invent new ones in adaptive ways
- increased liklihood that modification of behaviours or invent new ones in adaptive ways
- large brains store, process and integrate more info about social and physical environment
- buffer should favour increase survival rates, longer
reproductive life compensating for the delayed
reproduction associated with growing a large brain
- Basically = provides flexibility in behaviour when facing changes in
the environment =easier learning allowing species to overcome
ecological challenges
- Sol et al, 2005
- relocated bird species from native range
- establishment success higher for species with bigger brains relative to body size
- so brain size is associated with establishment success
- inferring species with bigger brains are able to invade
novel locations better than conterparts
- inferring species with bigger brains are able to invade
novel locations better than conterparts
- supports the hypothesis that large brain
function may have evolved to deal with changes
in the environment
- enlarged brains enhance cognitive skills to respond to environmental change
- enlarged brains enhance cognitive skills to respond to environmental change
- so brain size is associated with establishment success
- establishment success higher for species with bigger brains relative to body size
- relocated bird species from native range
- Gonzalez-Lagos et al 2010
- analsed data from 493 mammal species
- larger brain = longer lifespan = new advantage
- more oppertunities to adapt allows to live longer, more chances for
reproduction = beneficial for species
- compensation for longer embryonic development needed to
generate larger brains
- larger brains = longer to sexual maturirty = compensated for longer
reproductive life
- hyenas have larger brain than giraffes relative to body size = on av., live longer
- CBH = larger encephalization = larger life span but equally possible
long life favours large brains
- thus - possible longer life works on favour of delay of repro cycles allowing
progenitors to invest more resources and time in offspring
- leads to formation of stable social groups whose members according to SIH
deal with more cognitive demands than lone animals and goes hand in hand
with large brains
- leads to formation of stable social groups whose members according to SIH
deal with more cognitive demands than lone animals and goes hand in hand
with large brains
- thus - possible longer life works on favour of delay of repro cycles allowing
progenitors to invest more resources and time in offspring
- CBH = larger encephalization = larger life span but equally possible
long life favours large brains
- hyenas have larger brain than giraffes relative to body size = on av., live longer
- larger brains = longer to sexual maturirty = compensated for longer
reproductive life
- compensation for longer embryonic development needed to
generate larger brains
- more oppertunities to adapt allows to live longer, more chances for
reproduction = beneficial for species
- larger brain = longer lifespan = new advantage
- analsed data from 493 mammal species
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