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Paul Manger, a South African scientist, says that dolphins' relatively large brains are due simply to preponderance of fatty glial cells. These glia produce heat, which allows the brain's neurons to do their job in the cold ocean.
Based on this observation, Professor Manger couldn't resist speculating that the intelligence of dolphins and other cetaceans (like whales and porpoises) is vastly overrated
quote: That much is obvious. But it is equally true that humans are animals. Is it so outlandish, from an evolutionary standpoint, to assume that if a large-brained mammal acts similarly to us under similar circumstances, the psychology behind its behavior is probably similar, too? This is true parsimony in the scientific sense, the idea that the simplest explanation is often the best. Those who resist this framework are in “anthropodenial” — they cling to unproven differences.
That is great. Anthropodenial, I love that word.
-------------------- "Accompanied by the ghosts of dolphins, the ghost of a ship sailed on..." Terry Pratchett Posts: 660 | From: Gainesville, FL | Registered: Dec 2005
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It is slightly odd that an animal, lets say an ape, can perform as well as a human child on a series of cognitive tests but behaviorist will stil call it "conditioning" or give some other lame explanation.
-------------------- Obi Wan: "Only a Sith deals in absolutes!" Anakin: "Um, isn't your last statement an absolute?" Posts: 166 | From: San Antonio, Texas | Registered: Sep 2006
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