Montgomery, SH;
(2017)
Encephalization.
In: Fuentes, A, (ed.)
The International Encyclopedia of Primatology.
Wiley-Blackwell
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Abstract
Encephalization is a measure of brain size relative to body size that has been proposed to reflect a species’ cognitive ability. The use of encephalization as a proxy for cognitive ability is based on an interpretation of brain-body scaling as a causal relationship; that is, a given gram of body tissue requires a given mass of brain tissue to coordinate its function. Deviation from brain-body scaling would therefore reflect selection for brain expansion associated with enhanced behavioral, or cognitive, traits. Although some support for this hypothesis is provided by co-variation between measures of encephalization and ecological traits, such as dietary behavior and seasonal variability, recent data on brain composition, evolution and genetics suggest a more complex relationship between brain size and cognition.
| Type: | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Title: | Encephalization |
| DOI: | 10.1002/9781119179313.wbprim0325 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119179313.wbprim0325 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1477169 |
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