tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709452311733751183.post6109460386587707004..comments2024-03-06T09:41:30.532+00:00Comments on Trapped by the Box: How the Human Brain works – concept cells, memodes and CODILChris Reynoldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04649202643490746910noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709452311733751183.post-22607927040255634862013-02-20T12:34:59.135+00:002013-02-20T12:34:59.135+00:00In evolutionary terms one has to consider the adva...In evolutionary terms one has to consider the advantages and disadvantages of having a large brain, as no animal will evolve one just because it might be a good idea. For the large aquatic sea mammals the economics are totally different to land primates. If you are living in water the weight of the brain can be ignored because its density is about the same as the water in which the animal swims. Its energy needs also are irrelevant as it needs to burn energy to keep warm in a cold watery environment – and if you can generate energy and run a larger brain at the same time – so much the better. For the same reason overheating is not a problem – which it is if you are trying to live in the open in the hot African savannah. As the body is surrounded by a thick layer of blubber, and there is no way a whale of dolphin can fall out of a tree, the brain needs less protection.<br /><br />In addition whales can travel in oceans which have no “obvious” signposts and if they can remember echo-location maps of the sea bottom this would be a great help in navigation – so bigger brains could be advantageous. In addition there is some indication that in the wild the dolphins have unique identification calls and at least some kind of language.Chris Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04649202643490746910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709452311733751183.post-76501539696315769662013-02-20T12:03:10.118+00:002013-02-20T12:03:10.118+00:00Interesting post. As I recall our closest living r...Interesting post. As I recall our closest living relative,the chimpanzee, develops skills that are passed on within populations but are absent in others. It is perhaps important to remember that delphins have encephalization quotients (brain mass to body mass) in excess of non-human primates. The largest brain (total mass) of any mammal belongs to the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).anthony michael carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17980954144014243555noreply@blogger.com