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Brain Size and Intelligence

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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

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Synonyms

Behavioral flexibility; Brain size; Complexity; Intelligence

Definition

The intelligence of an animal is related to the external and intrinsic properties of the brain which determine its functions.

Introduction

To the common observer, it would seem obvious that animals differ in their intelligence and that human intelligence, at least from our own biased perspective, is far superior to that of other animals. But what exactly is animal intelligence and how is it linked to the parameters of the brain? Knowledge on animal intelligence is not only of interest to comparative ecologists, evolutionary psychologists, and neuroscientists, but it is also important to the general public as this helps shape public perception regarding welfare, care, and use of animals.

What Is Animal Intelligence?

One of the major obstacles in comparing intelligence across species remains the acceptance of a universally accepted definition of intelligence and how to measure it. In humans, intelligence in...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA, USA

    Joshua R. Lemert & Muhammad A. Spocter

  2. School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Muhammad A. Spocter

Authors
  1. Joshua R. Lemert
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  2. Muhammad A. Spocter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muhammad A. Spocter .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of Redlands, Redlands, CA, USA

    Catherine Salmon

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Lemert, J.R., Spocter, M.A. (2018). Brain Size and Intelligence. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3097-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3097-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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