A new study that looked at 90 animal species found a link between brain size and the social and cultural characteristics of marine mammals.
For the first time, scientists have addressed the question of whether the "social brain hypothesis" applies to whales and dolphins as well as to humans. The theory suggests that intelligence develops as a means of overcoming contradictions between collective members in large and complex social groups.
Like humans, whales and dolphins live in close-knit communities, collaborate with other species, talk to each other, and even have regional dialects. They also take part in joint hunting and pass on their skills to the younger members of the group. Some species even have identification signals that the researchers believe are the equivalent of human names or nicknames, so they can communicate like humans.
Research has shown that it is possible to predict the brain size of intelligent marine mammals based on the complexity of their social and cultural structures.
These social and cultural characteristics are associated with brain size and cortical enlargement, a phenomenon known as encephalization, which materially reinforces complex social cognitions in humans, including language, shared attention, shared goals, learning, consensus decision-making, and empathy.
Scientists note that cetaceans have rather complex social behavior, similar to the behavior of humans and primates. But the difference in brain structures compared to us leads some researchers to argue that whales and dolphins cannot achieve higher cognitive and social skills.
In addition, other researchers point out another reason for the impossibility of creating a likeness of the human community with its advanced technologies by cetaceans. The reason lies in the anatomical structure of the universal working organ of a person - his hand. Whales and dolphins simply haven't developed opposing thumbs.
The study was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.
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