INDG 401 Lecture 14: Lecture 14
9 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Lecture 13: Cognition and Empathy
Japan Chimp Test Area
• Taught them symbols and did tests (tasks) on them to study things
• Area actually better at certain tests than humans are
• Social intelligence tests are also used
University of Georgia, Capuchins
• Can asses their own reward for doing a test, and can assess the others reward for doing their
own test
Brain Size
• People often talk about the brain size increased in our evolution
• “a smaller brain = less intelligent”
• Body/Brain Ratio
• Groups are above the line (brain weight higher than typical body weight) is believed to be
intelligent
• Primates are above this line
• Can be evaluated in different ways
Should we be adjusting for body size?
• Larger animal usually has larger everything
• But, if you think about, Brain size shouldn’t be necessarily related to bodily functions
• In terms of intelligence, its something that is above just this
Brains are a substantial cost
• Consume about 20% of our metabolic energy
• Typically 400 calories is what your brain consumes
Mormyrids
• Fish in Africa
• Large brain per body size
• Send out electrical signals
• But can recognize them as well
• Fish can adjust brain size per population
• in terms of those living in swamps, there is very little oxygen, so therefore their brains are
smaller
• Environment dependant
Deception as an illustration of Intelligence
= Intentional concealment or perversion of the truth for the purpose of misleading
• lying or concealing
• For one animal to deceive another, it must be aware that its communication transmit
communication
• Must know its communication is a signal for others
• Must have other ways (deception)
• Baboons for example (with dominant vs subordinate males)
o for one animal to deceive another, it must be aware that its communication transmits
information, it must recognise that other animals know that its behaviour is informative,
and it must select from a set of alternatives, communication that provides, suppresses,
or distorts information
Distraction example: baboons
▪ Young baboons are attacked
▪ Give a call
▪ Mother comes to rescue baboon
▪ Attacker will stop the attack after scream is admitted
▪ And pretends they aren’t the one doing the attacking
Chimps
• Juveniles are subordinate to adults
• Experiments with hidden food items
• Will show juveniles food
• Juveniles are the only ones to know, and will conceal this information from the adults
Shrike in the Amazon
• Mixed species group
• Fly in an area
• insects will be disrupted
Document Summary
Japan chimp test area: taught them symbols and did tests (tasks) on them to study things, area actually better at certain tests than humans are, social intelligence tests are also used. University of georgia, capuchins: can asses their own reward for doing a test, and can assess the others reward for doing their own test. Larger animal usually has larger everything: but, if you thi(cid:374)k a(cid:271)out, brai(cid:374) size should(cid:374)"t (cid:271)e (cid:374)e(cid:272)essarily related to (cid:271)odily fu(cid:374)(cid:272)tio(cid:374)s. In terms of intelligence, its something that is above just this. Brains are a substantial cost: consume about 20% of our metabolic energy, typically 400 calories is what your brain consumes. Distraction example: baboons: young baboons are attacked, give a call, mother comes to rescue baboon, attacker will stop the attack after scream is admitted, a(cid:374)d prete(cid:374)ds they are(cid:374)"t the o(cid:374)e doi(cid:374)g the atta(cid:272)ki(cid:374)g. Juveniles are subordinate to adults: experiments with hidden food items, will show juveniles food.
