Do we have a sense for how much of the orca brain is specialized for sonar? About a third of the human brain is specialized to visual perception. If sonar is harder than vision, evolution might have dedicated more of the orca brain to it. On the other hand, orcas don’t need a bunch of brain for manual dexterity, like us.
In humans, the prefrontal cortex is dedicated to “higher” forms of thinking. But evolution slides functions around on the cortical surface, and (Claude tells me) association areas like the prefrontal cortex are particularly prone to this. Just looking for the volume of the prefrontal cortex won’t tell you how much actual thought goes on there.
Do we have a sense for how much of the orca brain is specialized for sonar?
I don’t know.
But evolution slides functions around on the cortical surface, and (Claude tells me) association areas like the prefrontal cortex are particularly prone to this.
It’s particularly bad for cetaceans. Their functional mapping looks completely different.
Do we have a sense for how much of the orca brain is specialized for sonar? About a third of the human brain is specialized to visual perception. If sonar is harder than vision, evolution might have dedicated more of the orca brain to it. On the other hand, orcas don’t need a bunch of brain for manual dexterity, like us.
In humans, the prefrontal cortex is dedicated to “higher” forms of thinking. But evolution slides functions around on the cortical surface, and (Claude tells me) association areas like the prefrontal cortex are particularly prone to this. Just looking for the volume of the prefrontal cortex won’t tell you how much actual thought goes on there.
I don’t know.
It’s particularly bad for cetaceans. Their functional mapping looks completely different.