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Author |
Dunbar, R.I.M.; Shultz, S. |
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Title |
Understanding primate brain evolution |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences |
Abbreviated Journal |
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci |
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Volume |
362 |
Issue |
1480 |
Pages |
649-658 |
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Abstract |
We present a detailed reanalysis of the comparative brain data for primates, and develop a model using path analysis that seeks to present the coevolution of primate brain (neocortex) and sociality within a broader ecological and life-history framework. We show that body size, basal metabolic rate and life history act as constraints on brain evolution and through this influence the coevolution of neocortex size and group size. However, they do not determine either of these variables, which appear to be locked in a tight coevolutionary system. We show that, within primates, this relationship is specific to the neocortex. Nonetheless, there are important constraints on brain evolution; we use path analysis to show that, in order to evolve a large neocortex, a species must first evolve a large brain to support that neocortex and this in turn requires adjustments in diet (to provide the energy needed) and life history (to allow sufficient time both for brain growth and for 'software' programming). We review a wider literature demonstrating a tight coevolutionary relationship between brain size and sociality in a range of mammalian taxa, but emphasize that the social brain hypothesis is not about the relationship between brain/neocortex size and group size per se; rather, it is about social complexity and we adduce evidence to support this. Finally, we consider the wider issue of how mammalian (and primate) brains evolve in order to localize the social effects. |
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British Academy Centenary Research Project, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. rimd@liv.ac.uk |
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0962-8436 |
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PMID:17301028 |
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2099 |
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Author |
Dunbar, R.I.M. |
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Title |
Male and female brain evolution is subject to contrasting selection pressures in primates |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
BMC Biology |
Abbreviated Journal |
BMC Biol |
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5 |
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Pages |
21 |
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Keywords |
Animals; *Brain/physiology; *Evolution; Female; Humans; Male; *Selection (Genetics); *Sex Characteristics |
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Abstract |
The claim that differences in brain size across primate species has mainly been driven by the demands of sociality (the “social brain” hypothesis) is now widely accepted. Some of the evidence to support this comes from the fact that species that live in large social groups have larger brains, and in particular larger neocortices. Lindenfors and colleagues (BMC Biology 5:20) add significantly to our appreciation of this process by showing that there are striking differences between the two sexes in the social mechanisms and brain units involved. Female sociality (which is more affiliative) is related most closely to neocortex volume, but male sociality (which is more competitive and combative) is more closely related to subcortical units (notably those associated with emotional responses). Thus different brain units have responded to different selection pressures. |
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British Academy Centenary Research Project, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. rimd@liv.ac.uk |
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1741-7007 |
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PMID:17493267 |
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2100 |
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Author |
O'Connell, S.; Dunbar, R.I.M. |
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Title |
The perception of causality in chimpanzees (Pan spp.) |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
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Animal Cognition |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Cogn. |
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8 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
60-66 |
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Animals; *Association Learning; Awareness; *Concept Formation; Female; *Habituation, Psychophysiologic; Male; Pan paniscus/*psychology; Pan troglodytes/*psychology; Perception |
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Abstract |
Chimpanzees (Pan spp.) were tested on a habituation/dishabituation paradigm that was originally developed to test for comprehension of causality in very young human infants. Three versions of the test were used: a food item being moved by a hand, a human pushing another human off a chair to obtain a food item, and a film clip of natural chimpanzee behaviour (capturing and eating a monkey). Chimpanzees exhibited similar results to those obtained with human infants, with significantly elevated levels of looking on the dishabituation trials. Since the level of response was significantly greater on natural/unnatural sequences than on unnatural/natural sequences, we conclude that the chimpanzees were not responding just to novelty but rather to events that infringed their sense of natural causation. |
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Evolutionary Psychology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK |
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1435-9448 |
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PMID:15322943 |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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2514 |
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