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Comparative Study
. 2006 Dec 22;2(4):557-60.
doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2006.0538.

Metabolic costs of brain size evolution

Karin Isler  1 , Carel P van Schaik
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Metabolic costs of brain size evolution

Karin Isler et al. Biol Lett. .

Abstract

In the ongoing discussion about brain evolution in vertebrates, the main interest has shifted from theories focusing on energy balance to theories proposing social or ecological benefits of enhanced intellect. With the availability of a wealth of new data on basal metabolic rate (BMR) and brain size and with the aid of reliable techniques of comparative analysis, we are able to show that in fact energetics is an issue in the maintenance of a relatively large brain, and that brain size is positively correlated with the BMR in mammals, controlling for body size effects. We conclude that attempts to explain brain size variation in different taxa must consider the ability to sustain the energy costs alongside cognitive benefits.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Least-squares regression of residuals ln(brain mass) versus residuals ln(basal metabolic rate) in mammals. (a) raw species values (N=313, p<0.0001, r2=0.053), (b) independent contrasts (N=312, p=0.005, r2=0.026).
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