Neocortex Size, Social Skills and Mating Success in Primates
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Abstract
The social brain hypothesis predicts that species with relatively larger neocortices should exhibit more complex social strategies than those with smaller neocortices. We test this prediction using data on the correlation between male rank and mating success for polygamous primates. This correlation is negatively related to neocortex size, as would be predicted if males of species with large neocortices are more effective at exploiting social opportunities to undermine the dominant male's power-based monopolisation of peri-ovulatory females than are those with smaller neocortices. This effect is shown to be independent of the influence of male cohort size.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
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Neocortex Size, Social Skills and Mating Success in Primates
In: BehaviourSearch for other papers by Bogusław Pawłowski in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Lowen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Dunbar in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The social brain hypothesis predicts that species with relatively larger neocortices should exhibit more complex social strategies than those with smaller neocortices. We test this prediction using data on the correlation between male rank and mating success for polygamous primates. This correlation is negatively related to neocortex size, as would be predicted if males of species with large neocortices are more effective at exploiting social opportunities to undermine the dominant male's power-based monopolisation of peri-ovulatory females than are those with smaller neocortices. This effect is shown to be independent of the influence of male cohort size.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1300 | 225 | 10 |
| Full Text Views | 391 | 27 | 4 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 357 | 65 | 12 |
