Do big-brained animals play more? Comparative analyses of play and relative brain size in mammals

Journal of Comparative Psychology
Andrew N IwaniukSergio M Pellis

Abstract

It has been hypothesized that play is more likely to be present in larger brained species. We tested this hypothesis in mammals using independent contrasts, a method that controls for phylogenetic relatedness. Comparisons across 15 orders revealed that the prevalence and complexity of play was significantly correlated with brain size, with larger brained orders having more playful species. Three orders, Rodentia, Marsupialia, and Primates, were used for within-order comparisons among species and, where possible, among families. The comparisons were not significant for rodents or primates, and those for marsupials yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, although a strong relationship is present at the highest taxonomic level of comparison, it diminishes or evaporates at lower level comparisons.

References

Jan 1, 1992·Brain, Behavior and Evolution·S M PellisI Q Whishaw
Sep 1, 1991·Trends in Pharmacological Sciences·A Harvey
Dec 21, 1989·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·A Grafen
Jan 1, 1974·International Review of Neurobiology·R E Passingham, G Ettlinger
Jan 1, 1973·Brain, Behavior and Evolution·L Radinsky
Oct 1, 1970·Experimental Neurology·C A Sorenson, G D Ellison
Jan 1, 1966·Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology·M W Sorenson, C H Conaway
Jul 1, 1983·Developmental Psychobiology·S M Pellis, V C Pellis
Jan 1, 1981·Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology·H StephanG Baron
May 1, 1981·Comprehensive Psychiatry·L Eisenberg
Jun 29, 1995·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·A Purvis
Jun 1, 1995·Computer Applications in the Biosciences : CABIOS·A Purvis, A Rambaut
Jun 16, 1995·Science·B L Finlay, R B Darlington
Jan 1, 1995·Brain, Behavior and Evolution·R R HamptonG Ivy
Sep 1, 1994·Physiology & Behavior·J PankseppS M Siviy
Jan 1, 1996·Brain, Behavior and Evolution·F Aboitiz
Jun 1, 1997·Journal of Human Evolution·T H Joffe
Oct 23, 1997·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·T H Joffe, R I Dunbar
Dec 5, 1997·Developmental Psychobiology·S M Pellis, V C Pellis
Dec 23, 1998·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·S M Pellis, V C Pellis
May 20, 1999·Journal of Human Evolution·A Deinard, K Kidd
Jun 23, 1999·Transfusion·J C BartonL F Bertoli
Oct 12, 1999·Nature·B L Anderson
Jan 15, 2000·Journal of Medical Ethics·A Bradshaw
Jun 25, 2002·Systematic Biology·F G Liu, M M Miyamoto
Sep 1, 1983·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Elise Brownell
May 1, 1991·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Emilia P Martins, Theodore Garland

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 9, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Vera Weisbecker, Anjali Goswami
Mar 24, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Daniel SolLouis Lefebvre
Jan 29, 2013·Trends in Genetics : TIG·Scott A Kelly, Daniel Pomp
Sep 8, 2009·Journal of Human Evolution·Karin Isler, Carel P van Schaik
May 27, 2011·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Andrew N Iwaniuk
Feb 18, 2011·American Journal of Primatology·Kerrie Lewis Graham
Sep 1, 2015·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Douglas R WylieAndrew N Iwaniuk
Mar 1, 2004·Human Nature : an Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective·Kerrie P Lewis, Robert A Barton
Nov 17, 2006·Brain, Behavior and Evolution·Andrew N IwaniukDouglas R W Wylie
Sep 22, 2016·Scientific Reports·Anna Ilona Roberts, Sam George Bradley Roberts
Dec 16, 2011·Die Naturwissenschaften·Juan José SolerAnders Pape Møller
Mar 15, 2018·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Gráinne I McNamaraAnthony R Isles
Jun 18, 2017·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Max KerneyJacob C Dunn

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.