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Beyond brain size

View ORCID ProfileCorina J Logan, Shahar Avin, Neeltje Boogert, View ORCID ProfileAndrew Buskell, View ORCID ProfileFiona R. Cross, Adrian Currie, View ORCID ProfileSarah Jelbert, View ORCID ProfileDieter Lukas, View ORCID ProfileRafael Mares, View ORCID ProfileAna F Navarrete, Shuichi Shigeno, Stephen H Montgomery
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/145334
Corina J Logan
1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3EJ,
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Shahar Avin
2Center for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, CB23QY
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Neeltje Boogert
3Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Daphne du Maurier building, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE
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Andrew Buskell
4Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3RH
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Fiona R. Cross
5School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
6International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Thomas Odhiambo Campus, P.O. Box 30, Mbita Point, Kenya
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Adrian Currie
2Center for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, CB23QY
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Sarah Jelbert
7Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3EB
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Dieter Lukas
1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3EJ,
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Rafael Mares
8Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
9Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
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Ana F Navarrete
10Centre for Biodiversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, KY16 9TH
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Shuichi Shigeno
11Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
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Stephen H Montgomery
1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3EJ,
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Abstract

Despite prolonged interest in comparing brain size and behavioral proxies of ‘intelligence’ across taxa, the adaptive and cognitive significance of brain size variation remains elusive. Central to this problem is the continued focus on hominid cognition as a benchmark, and the assumption that behavioral complexity has a simple relationship with brain size. Although comparative studies of brain size have been criticized for not reflecting how evolution actually operates, and for producing spurious, inconsistent results, the causes of these limitations have received little discussion. We show how these issues arise from implicit assumptions about what brain size measures and how it correlates with behavioral and cognitive traits. We explore how inconsistencies can arise through heterogeneity in evolutionary trajectories and selection pressures on neuroanatomy or neurophysiology across taxa. We examine how interference from ecological and life history variables complicates interpretations of brain-behavior correlations, and point out how this problem is exacerbated by the limitations of brain and cognitive measures. These considerations, and the diversity of brain morphologies and behavioral capacities, suggest that comparative brain-behavior research can make greater progress by focusing on specific neuroanatomical and behavioral traits within relevant ecological and evolutionary contexts. We suggest that a synergistic combination of the ‘bottom up’ approach of classical neuroethology and the ‘top down’ approach of comparative biology/psychology within closely related but behaviorally diverse clades can limit the effects of heterogeneity, interference, and noise. We argue this shift away from broad-scale analyses of superficial phenotypes will provide deeper, more robust insights into brain evolution.

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license.
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Posted June 02, 2017.
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Beyond brain size
Corina J Logan, Shahar Avin, Neeltje Boogert, Andrew Buskell, Fiona R. Cross, Adrian Currie, Sarah Jelbert, Dieter Lukas, Rafael Mares, Ana F Navarrete, Shuichi Shigeno, Stephen H Montgomery
bioRxiv 145334; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/145334
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Beyond brain size
Corina J Logan, Shahar Avin, Neeltje Boogert, Andrew Buskell, Fiona R. Cross, Adrian Currie, Sarah Jelbert, Dieter Lukas, Rafael Mares, Ana F Navarrete, Shuichi Shigeno, Stephen H Montgomery
bioRxiv 145334; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/145334

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