Machavellian intelligence

allows an individual to serve his or her own interes by interacting with others either cooperatively or manipulatively but without disturbing the overa social cohesion of the group think: corrupt politicians positive feedback between social complexity and brain size/intelligence seen in carnivores and their ungulate prey Red Queen Effect!

Primate group size minimum group size needed for defense against predators maximum group size

ecological factors
social factors

Larger groups

take longer to move from place to place

more conspicuous to predators

less food per individual when located

When a group becomes too large conflicts arise over food dominance

Thresholds where groups split

Benefit of group living must be weighed against cos

Social Conflicts arise because of competition for

food mates Order is maintained by Dominance Hierarchies

High ranking individuals achieve higher reproductive success

priority of access to resources

Complex Social Interactions success also depends on networks of alliances coalitions

Predator Pressure

Competition Social Conflict

Grooming as a tool to dissipate aggression and con used to solicit altruistic interactions for reconciliation after conflict

maintains friendships
cements alliances

The role of deception

mislead others
by giving false information false warning calls

Social Primates must be able to recognize individuals keep track of social debts - yours and others know relatedness between individuals

be able to consider how a situation would look to another individual

Theory of Mind realizing others have minds

complete with
beliefs intentions mental states different than your own can be predicted

Intentionality zero-order: a rock unaware of its own existence first order: self-awareness second order: self-awareness and realization that others are aware also children acquire this between 3-4 Most adults can keep track of 5-6 orders

1st order I think 2nd order I think you think 3rd order I think you think I think Etc.

Self Awareness very hard to measure in animals

Mirror test Humans, Apes, Dolphins, Elephants Convergent Evolution

The Human Brain three main sections primitive core

inherited from our reptilian ancestors

mid-section sensory perception integrating bodily functions white matter

 outer layer
cerebral cortex distinctive to mammals grey matter in mammals makes up 35% of the total brain

In primates
50% in prosimians

80% in humans

Neocortex enlargement driven by advantages of processing and using socially relevant information Multifactoral approach To encephalisation

Encephalisation and Runaway Sexual Selection

females preferred smarter males offspring are smarter sons are preferred mates

females inherit preference for smart males

positive feedback loop

Sexual Selection and Brain Size: Display Hypothesis

males display intelligence via art music making artifacts

telling stories
resulting in science, art & literature female choice driving encephalisation in males??

Genomic Imprinting and brain growth traditionally thought that autosomes act same

doesnt matter if they come from mom or dad

Genomic Imprinting when how a gene operates depends on its origin paternally active came from father maternally active came from mother

Maternally active genes see maternal siblings as related r = 1

act more altruistically towards maternal relatives

benefit via inclusive fitness Paternally active genes see maternal sibling as unrelated r = 0 act selfishly attempt to forcibly extract more maternal resources than the mother is willing to give

Neoteny
small genetic changes that effect timing of development of features skull of juvenile chimpanzee looks like human skull suppression of genes that control skull maturation

results in the maintaining of juvenile skull proportions in adulthood

Natural Selection and The Origin of Language

Steven Pinker 1994 inherited disorders involving grammatical errors in speech

language areas of the brain

Brocas area speech Wernickes areas comprehension language bears signs of being designed to serve a specialized function like the mammalian eye or bird wing

 children learn language naturally and quickly the human vocal tract is adapted to speech larynx low in throat allows for expansion of types of sounds auditory apparatus specialized for decoding speech all human languages are grammatically complex