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The size and complexity of dolphin brains—a paradox?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2008

Stefan Huggenberger
Stefan Huggenberger*
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute II, University of Cologne, Weyertal 119, 50931 Köln, Germany
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Stefan Huggenberger, Zoological Institute II, University of Cologne, Weyertal 119, 50931 Köln, Germany email: st.huggenberger@uni-koeln.de
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Abstract

Dolphin brain size with respect to body size ranks between that of apes and humans. The hypertrophic auditory structures, the large cerebrum with extended gyrification and the highly cognitive capabilities of toothed whales seem to be in paradoxical contrast to their thin neocortex with a plesiomorphic or paedomorphic cytoarchitecture. The total number of neurons in the delphinid neocortex is comparable to that of the chimpanzee (Primates), but, in relation to body weight, in the magnitude of the hedgehog (Insectivora) neocortex since cetaceans may be able to obtain larger body sizes than terrestrial mammals due to reduced gravitational effects in water. During evolution, dolphins may have increased the computational performance of their cytoarchitectonically ‘simple’ neocortex by a multiplication of relevant structures (resulting in a hypertrophic surface area) instead of increasing its complexity. Based on this hypothesis, I suggest that the evolution of the large dolphin brain was possible due to a combination of different prerequisites based on adaptations to the aquatic environment including the sonar system. The latter facilitated a successful feeding strategy to support an increased metabolic turnover of the brain and led to a hypertrophic auditory system. Moreover, the rudimentary pelvic girdle did not limit brain size at birth. These adaptations favoured the evolutionary size increase of the cerebral cortex in dolphins facilitating highly cognitive capabilities as well as precise and rapid sound processing using a ‘simple’ kind of neocortical cytoarchitecture.

Keywords

neocortexauditory systemtoothed whalescognitive capabilities
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Special Issue 6: Marine Mammals , September 2008 , pp. 1103 - 1108
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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