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43 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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cephalization index
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a measure of the size of the brain relative to the size of the body
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contextual variables
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The sensory, motivational, and motor processes that influence the speed at which learning takes place, and which make it difficult to compare the intelligence of different species by studying speed of learning.
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dex·ter·i·ty
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Skill in performing tasks, esp. with the hands.
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Locomotion
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Movement or the ability to move from one place to another.
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Cladistic Analysis
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– A commonly used way of lining up traits to
identify close relatives among both living and fossil primates – Groups organisms into clades (i.e. organisms that share a common ancestor) – Based on the common possession of uniquely derived characters (“synapomorphies”) |
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synapomorphies
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Based on the common possession of uniquely
derived characters |
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Homology
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Similarity in structure in different taxa that is derived
through inheritance from a common ancestor |
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Homoplasy
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Similar traits that arise in two species through parallel or convergent evolution
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Convergent Evolution
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Distantly related species converge on a similar solution to the same ecological pressure
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Genetic Variation
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Accumulates over time
due to random mutations |
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Molecular Clock
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predicts the time it takes for these random mutations to
accumulate -Molecular clocks can vary with the type and |
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Tarsiiformes
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• Only in SE Asia
• Nocturnal • No tapetum lucidum |
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Prosimian
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• Most, but not all, are nocturnal
• Rely heavily on olfactory cues (relatively large nasal cavities & scent glands -->smell) • Fingers are les dexterous than those of most anthropoids -arboreal (living in tree) • Faster life histories compared to monkeys, apes, and tarsiers. • Variation in dentition |
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Prosimian
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-Lemuriformes
-Lorisiformes |
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Anthropoidea:
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Monkeys & Apes
Platyrrhini(new world monkeys) Catarrhini(old world monkeys) |
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Anthropoidea:
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• Shift to habitual diurnal
lifestyle (except for night monkey) • Greater emphasis on visual communication vs. olfactory • Relatively large brains & distinctive brain architecture |
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Cerebrum:
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Cerebral Cortex:is a thin layer of cells
Neocortex= The Cerebrum’s Surface |
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The Limbic System
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• Directly
Connects Lower and Higher Brain Functions • Regulates Emotion & Memory |
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Limbic System: Amygdala
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• Feeding
• Memory • Emotion |
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Limbic System: Hippocampus
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Memory
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Limbic System: Hypothalamus
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• Controls many critical
functions: – Autonomic nervous system – Food/Water Intake – Sleep/Wake Cycles – Body Temperature |
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Thalamus
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• “Gateway to the
Cerebral Cortex” |
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Cerebellum
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• Connected to the
brain stem • Body Movement & Balance |
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Pons
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– Connects the two
hemispheres of the cerebellum |
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Medulla
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• Primary Control for
Involuntary Reflexes: – Swallowing – Vomiting – Sneezing – Cardiovascular Activity |
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Allometric Scaling
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• Shape may change
with size |
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Mosaic Evolution
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• Different parts
of the brain can show different rates and amounts of evolutionary change |
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Primate vs. Non‐Primate Brain
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• All primates have
relatively large brains per body weight compared to other mammals |
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Encephalization Quotient
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EQ=Brain mass/0.12 X (Body mass )2/3
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Primate vs. Non‐Primate Brain
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• Neocortex: Mammals
have 6 layered neocortex • But not all mammals have the same thickness nor emphasis on the same layers |
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Summary: The Primate Brain
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• We have large brains
• We have large encephalization quotients (brain:body ratios) • Our neocortex is comparatively large • Our neocortex is folded extensively • Our frontal lobes make up a comparatively large portion of our brains • Our frontal pole is well developed • We have inhibitory connections to our limbic system • We have brains adapted for: – Visual systems – Fine motor movements in our hands & face – Language processing – Fast transmission of information |
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Basal Metabolic
Rate (BMR): |
Larger primates
need less energy per unit mass |
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Link: Brain Size & Life History
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• Larger brained animals have extended life
history traits: – Age at 1st reproduction is later – Gestation period is longer – Juvenile dependency period is longer |
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Two Major Hypotheses
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• Ecological Cognition Hypothesis
• Social Brain Hypothesis |
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Foraging
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• Locating and
identifying food • Extracting and processing food |
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Taxonomic Patterns
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• Apes are omnivorous extractive foragers that
use tools • Capuchin monkeys are also extractive foragers and score very high on intelligence tests, even though they are distantly related to the great apes |
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Challenges to the Ecological Cognition
Hypothesis |
• Does not take into
account the complexity of intelligence • Many types of intelligence not reflected by brain size |
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The neocortex
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• Dunbar (1992,1995): We should be looking at
increase in neocortical volume not brain size |
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Social Brain Hypothesis
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• Animals living in groups face cognitive demands
that animals living alone do not: – Coordinate Behaviors – Diffuse Conflicts |
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Habitation
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strength of reaction decreases with repeated presentation of a "non meaningful" stimulus
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sensitization
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increased response to a stimulus after another or the same stimulus
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Associative learning
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• Occurs when there is a change in an animal’s
behavior as a result of one event being paired with another – Pavlovian (“Classical”) conditioning – Instrumental conditioning |
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Pavlovian conditioning
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Unconditioned
Stimulus (US):the biologically significant stimulus that provokes an automatic response in an organism (EX.food) • Unconditioned Response (UR):-response naturally elicited by the US (ex. drewl) |
