456
But does brain mass, number of neurons, and synaptic connections actually provide a meaningful window on intelligence, let alone comparisons of all those
nuances by which we presume to mean intelligence? The red junglefowl has 221
million neurons, a prairie dog—with its highly articulated communication
skills—473,940,000 neurons,
61
blue-and-yellow macaws, 3.136 × 10 [9], a human
8.6 × 10 [10].
Encephalization quotients (EQ) and allometrics—anatomical brain ratios that
encompass physiology, anatomy, and behavior—have also been accorded some
degree of confidence, but it again comes down to brain size. Hence, the EQ for a
human is maximum 7.8, and for a hippopotamus, 0.37.
62
Research has pointed out
that large brains and number of neurons in the cerebral cortex are not necessarily
correlated, as canids have revealed
63
—hence, the so-called paradox of the elephant
brain and the attendant human bias.
64
Efficacy signals? Mental and intuitive qualia
levels? Subjective circuit-breakers? Emotional intelligence? Ethical and spiritual
intelligence? Longevity? Population sustainability? None of these quotients can be
measured, yet they are crucial to actually formulating a theory of mind that is relevant, let alone subject to meaningful comparisons.
61 See Prairie Dogs: Communication and Community in an Animal Society, by C. N. Slobodchikoff,
Bianca S. Perla, and Jennifer L. Verdolin, Harvard University Press, 2009. Octopus, 500,000,000.
62 See Schoenemann, P. Thomas (2004). “Brain Size Scaling and Body Composition in
Mammals”. Brain, Behavior and Evolution. 63 (1): 47–60. doi:https://doi.org/10.1159/000073759
. PMID 14673198. See also, Lefebvre, Louis; Reader, Simon M.; Sol, Daniel (2004). “Brains,
Innovations and Evolution in Birds and Primates”. Brain, Behavior and Evolution. 63 (4): 233–
246. doi:https://doi.org/10.1159/000076784. PMID 15084816. See aso, Cairό, Osvaldo
(2011). ”External measures of cognition”. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 5: 108. See also,
Suzana Herculano-Houzel, The Human Advantage: How our brains became remarkable. MIT
Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2017.
63 See “Dogs Have the Most Neurons, Though Not The Largest Brain: Trade-Off between Body
Mass and Number of Neurons in the Cerebral Cortex of Large Carnivoran Species,” by Debora
Jardim-Messeder, Kelly Lambert, Stephen Noctor, Fernanda M. Pestana, Maria E. de Castro Leal,
Mads F. Bertelsen, Abdulaziz N. Alagaili, Osama B. Mohammad, Paul R. Manger, and Suzana
Herculano-Houzel, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, Front. Neuroanat., 12 December 2017 | https://doi.
org/10.3389/fnana.2017.00118, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnana.2017.00118/
full, Accessed May 5, 2020.
64 “The Paradox of the Elephant Brain – With three times as many neurons, why doesn’t the elephant brain outperform ours?” by Suzana Herculano-Houzel, Illustration by Hannah K. Lee,
Nautilus, April 7, 2016, http://nautil.us/issue/35/boundaries/the-paradox-of-the-elephant-brain.
Researchers have also sought to explain the impact of a single gene in the human brain, namely,
the ARHGAP11B, “a gene found only in humans, [that] is known for its role in expanding neocortex….” “Brain Gene Tops the List for Making Humans, Human,” by Courtney Sexton, June 18,
2020, Smithsonian Magazine.
48 The Mind of a Chicken
But does brain mass, number of neurons, and synaptic connections actually provide a meaningful window on intelligence, let alone comparisons of all those
nuances by which we presume to mean intelligence? The red junglefowl has 221
million neurons, a prairie dog—with its highly articulated communication
skills—473,940,000 neurons,
61
blue-and-yellow macaws, 3.136 × 10 [9], a human
8.6 × 10 [10].
Encephalization quotients (EQ) and allometrics—anatomical brain ratios that
encompass physiology, anatomy, and behavior—have also been accorded some
degree of confidence, but it again comes down to brain size. Hence, the EQ for a
human is maximum 7.8, and for a hippopotamus, 0.37.
62
Research has pointed out
that large brains and number of neurons in the cerebral cortex are not necessarily
correlated, as canids have revealed
63
—hence, the so-called paradox of the elephant
brain and the attendant human bias.
64
Efficacy signals? Mental and intuitive qualia
levels? Subjective circuit-breakers? Emotional intelligence? Ethical and spiritual
intelligence? Longevity? Population sustainability? None of these quotients can be
measured, yet they are crucial to actually formulating a theory of mind that is relevant, let alone subject to meaningful comparisons.
61 See Prairie Dogs: Communication and Community in an Animal Society, by C. N. Slobodchikoff,
Bianca S. Perla, and Jennifer L. Verdolin, Harvard University Press, 2009. Octopus, 500,000,000.
62 See Schoenemann, P. Thomas (2004). “Brain Size Scaling and Body Composition in
Mammals”. Brain, Behavior and Evolution. 63 (1): 47–60. doi:https://doi.org/10.1159/000073759
. PMID 14673198. See also, Lefebvre, Louis; Reader, Simon M.; Sol, Daniel (2004). “Brains,
Innovations and Evolution in Birds and Primates”. Brain, Behavior and Evolution. 63 (4): 233–
246. doi:https://doi.org/10.1159/000076784. PMID 15084816. See aso, Cairό, Osvaldo
(2011). ”External measures of cognition”. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 5: 108. See also,
Suzana Herculano-Houzel, The Human Advantage: How our brains became remarkable. MIT
Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2017.
63 See “Dogs Have the Most Neurons, Though Not The Largest Brain: Trade-Off between Body
Mass and Number of Neurons in the Cerebral Cortex of Large Carnivoran Species,” by Debora
Jardim-Messeder, Kelly Lambert, Stephen Noctor, Fernanda M. Pestana, Maria E. de Castro Leal,
Mads F. Bertelsen, Abdulaziz N. Alagaili, Osama B. Mohammad, Paul R. Manger, and Suzana
Herculano-Houzel, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, Front. Neuroanat., 12 December 2017 | https://doi.
org/10.3389/fnana.2017.00118, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnana.2017.00118/
full, Accessed May 5, 2020.
64 “The Paradox of the Elephant Brain – With three times as many neurons, why doesn’t the elephant brain outperform ours?” by Suzana Herculano-Houzel, Illustration by Hannah K. Lee,
Nautilus, April 7, 2016, http://nautil.us/issue/35/boundaries/the-paradox-of-the-elephant-brain.
Researchers have also sought to explain the impact of a single gene in the human brain, namely,
the ARHGAP11B, “a gene found only in humans, [that] is known for its role in expanding neocortex….” “Brain Gene Tops the List for Making Humans, Human,” by Courtney Sexton, June 18,
2020, Smithsonian Magazine.
48 The Mind of a Chicken