Dolphin
- New research suggests that dolphins are second only to humans in smarts.
- MRI scans indicate that these marine mammals are self-aware.
- Researchers think dolphins are especially vulnerable to suffering and trauma.
When human measures for intelligence are applied to other species, dolphins come in just behind humans in brainpower, according to new research. Dolphins demonstrate skills and awareness previously thought to be present only in humans.
New MRI scans show that dolphin brains are four to five times larger for their body size when compared to another animal of similar size, according to Lori Marino, a senior lecturer in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University, and one of the world 's leading dolphin experts. Humans also possess an impressive brain-to-body ratio.
"If we use relative brain size as a metric of 'intelligence ' then one would have to conclude that dolphins are second in intelligence to modern humans," said Marino, who performed several MRI scans on dolphin brains.
Marino will be presenting her findings at next month 's American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting.
"Size isn 't everything," she admitted, but she says at least two other lines of evidence support her claims about dolphin intelligence.
First, various features of the dolphin neocortex -- the part of the brain involved in higher-order thinking and processing of emotional information -- are "particularly expanded" in dolphins.
Second, behavioral studies conducted by Marino and other experts demonstrate that dolphins exhibit human-like skills. These include mirror self-recognition, cultural learning, comprehension of symbol-based communication systems, and an understanding of abstract concepts.
The Navy 's Marine Mammal Program began in 1960 with two goals. First, the Navy wanted to study the underwater sonar capabilities of dolphins and beluga whales to learn how to design more efficient methods of detecting objects
- MRI scans indicate that these marine mammals are self-aware.
- Researchers think dolphins are especially vulnerable to suffering and trauma.
When human measures for intelligence are applied to other species, dolphins come in just behind humans in brainpower, according to new research. Dolphins demonstrate skills and awareness previously thought to be present only in humans.
New MRI scans show that dolphin brains are four to five times larger for their body size when compared to another animal of similar size, according to Lori Marino, a senior lecturer in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University, and one of the world 's leading dolphin experts. Humans also possess an impressive brain-to-body ratio.
"If we use relative brain size as a metric of 'intelligence ' then one would have to conclude that dolphins are second in intelligence to modern humans," said Marino, who performed several MRI scans on dolphin brains.
Marino will be presenting her findings at next month 's American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting.
"Size isn 't everything," she admitted, but she says at least two other lines of evidence support her claims about dolphin intelligence.
First, various features of the dolphin neocortex -- the part of the brain involved in higher-order thinking and processing of emotional information -- are "particularly expanded" in dolphins.
Second, behavioral studies conducted by Marino and other experts demonstrate that dolphins exhibit human-like skills. These include mirror self-recognition, cultural learning, comprehension of symbol-based communication systems, and an understanding of abstract concepts.
The Navy 's Marine Mammal Program began in 1960 with two goals. First, the Navy wanted to study the underwater sonar capabilities of dolphins and beluga whales to learn how to design more efficient methods of detecting objects
Cited: Viegas, Jennifer “Dolphins: The Second-Smartest Animal.” 22 Jan 2010 http://news.discovery.com/animals/whales-dolphins/dolphins-smarter-brain-function.htm The Gist http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/whales/etc/navycron.html http://www.ego4u.com/en/read-on/animals/dolphin/facts http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/bottlenose-dophin/