YoVDO

The Evolutionary Sweet-Spot for Cognition

Offered By: Simons Institute via YouTube

Tags

Evolutionary Biology Courses Brain Development Courses Animal Intelligence Courses

Course Description

Overview

Save Big on Coursera Plus. 7,000+ courses at $160 off. Limited Time Only!
Explore the evolutionary factors influencing cognitive development across species in this 45-minute lecture by Thomas Morgan from Arizona State University. Examine the traditional view of a monotonic relationship between environmental complexity and cognitive sophistication, supported by comparative data in mammals. Challenge this perspective by considering evidence from non-mammalian species, suggesting a more nuanced "sweet spot" for cognitive evolution. Investigate how environmental challenges, lifespan, and the metabolic cost of brain tissue interact to create optimal conditions for cognitive advancement. Gain insights into why complex cognition might be rarer than previously thought, as the lecture delves into ongoing research that reframes our understanding of the evolutionary pressures shaping intelligence across the animal kingdom.

Syllabus

The Evolutionary Sweet-Spot for Cognition


Taught by

Simons Institute

Related Courses

Introduction to Genetics and Evolution
Duke University via Coursera
Animal Behaviour
University of Melbourne via Coursera
Human Evolution: Past and Future
University of Wisconsin–Madison via Coursera
Comparing Genes, Proteins, and Genomes (Bioinformatics III)
University of California, San Diego via Coursera
Molecular Evolution (Bioinformatics IV)
University of California, San Diego via Coursera