Culture (L1)

Question 1

Explain how there is no flexible resource allocation when it comes to brain

Answer 1

Evidence: brain experiences almost no reduction in organ mass during extreme starvation in humans

Question 2

what two processes enabled larger brain (relative to body size)

Answer 2

1. stable net increase in energy input

2. reduced energy allocation to other functions

Question 3

two ways that enable stable net increase in energy input

Answer 3

energy subsidies (cooperative breeding)
improved diet quality (meat)

Question 4

two ways that enable energy allocation to other functions

Answer 4

production decrease (growth and reproduction trade off)
other major functions decrease

Question 5

explain how brain size increased through trade off of growth and repro

Answer 5

lower + later reproductive

Question 6

explain expensive tissue funcction

Answer 6

• Gut uses less energy than expected for body size (high qual diet= 1. More energy brain, 2. Smaller gut > less energy required for gut // allocated

Question 7

critique of expensive tissue hyp

Answer 7

• Critique: no neg correlation found b/w brain and gut size
o Instead brain size + body fat
o Fat sorage= strategy to buffer against starvation, but if large brain= allows find food easier // lower in fat

Question 8

what type of enviro favours larger brain

Answer 8

• Environmental fluctuations = favor larger brain (enabled novel behavior for survival/reproduction in an unpredictable environment)
50% of variation explained by temp

Question 9

costs of larger brain

Answer 9

obstetric dilemma
maternal adaption
neonate adaptions

high energy costs

Question 10

explain obstetric dilemma

Answer 10

• Human pelvis bowl-shaped
• adapted for bipedality
• but restricts size of birth canal

Question 11

explain maternal adaptions

Answer 11

• Increase in neonatal cranium → selective pressure on
• – size of opening of female pelvis resulting in sexual dimorphism of the human pelvis
• – softening of pubic symphyses at end of pregnancy

Question 12

Explain neonate adaptions

Answer 12

• Bones of cranium not fused (not ossified)
• – able to slip → allow compression during birth
• – space for rapid post-natal brain development

Question 13

benefits of larger brain

Answer 13

ecological intelligence
social intelligence (larger social networks)
behavioural flexibility (innovation)

Question 14

explain benefit of ecological intelligence

Answer 14

‘ecological intelligence hypothesis’

- Frugivorous primates need larger brains to remember location and phenological status of fruit trees

Question 15

explain benefit of social intelligence

Answer 15

information- processing capacity

managing interactions with neighbours (distinguishing between friend and foe)
• – development of cooperative networks among males and/or females

Question 16

why are groups more efficient than solitary

Answer 16

o Safety= predation

o Defending food source explain