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Summary: Evolution In The Social Brain

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Recommended: Sociality among primates is likely the result of

According to the article, “Evolution in the Social Brain”, correlation exists between brain size and social interactions and surroundings. A mystery has existed for long about why some primate groups of animals evolved a large brain. Evidence, today, suggests that brain development and size depends on social surroundings and the way of living. The sociality of primate is based on relationship pairbonds in other taxa.
In the 1970s, neurobiologist Harry Jerison, determined a difference between brain functions, both physical requirements and cognitive. The cognitive roles of the brain have significantly increased over time for birds and mammals, while fish and reptiles continue with less evolved brain sizes and capacities. It remains a mystery why birds and mammal require larger brains than the minimum required to survive. Many have argued …show more content…

Sexual selection has been another factor studied in correlation of brain size mysteries. Studies have proved this theory as not being the entire contributing factor to influence the brain.
Four orders of mammals and 135 species have been studied to prove the correlation between brain size and sociality. Each case showed positive association with pairbonding. Anthropoid primates demonstrate a direct correlation of social group size and brain size. Early history demonstrates that anthropoid primates use cognitive skills similar to pairbonded relationships to form relationships with non-reproductive partners.
The article suggests that humans today put too much thought and emotion into relationships and sociality, while primate sociality of animals was based more immediate benefits regarding individual fitness. These animals did not socially connect for mating selection or parenting strategies. Relationships are made negotiating long term fitness benefits. Individuals pursue social groups for lifetime, rather than individual

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