Work

Interactions with conspecific outsiders as drivers of cognitive evolution

Year: 2020

Type: review

Abstract: The social intelligence hypothesis (SIH) posits that within-group interactions drive cognitive evolution, but it has received equivocal support. We argue the SIH overlooks a major component of social life: interactions with conspecific outsiders. Competition for vital resources means conspecific outsiders present myriad threats and opportunities in all animal taxa across the social spectrum (from individuals to groups). We detail cognitive challenges generated by conspecific outsiders, arguing these select for 'Napoleonic' intelligence; explain potential influences on the SIH; and highlight important considerations when empirically testing these ideas. Including interactions with conspecific outsiders may substantially improve our understanding of cognitive evolution.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18780-3

Authors: Benjamin J. Ashton, Patrick Kennedy, Andrew N. Radford

Institutions: University of Bristol, Macquarie University

Language: English

Topic: Primate Behavior and Ecology

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,380

Funders: Association Neurofibromatoses et Recklinghause, H2020 European Research Council