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Nature doesn't optimize like us. If the neuron count is function of tissue 'mass' then you'll have a larger brain. Just having larger skin surface (granted simi
by agumonkey 4y ago
Nature doesn't optimize like us. If the neuron count is function of tissue 'mass' then you'll have a larger brain. Just having larger skin surface (granted similar density of sensory cells) would be a reason to have more neuron to deal with more sensory inputs.
- Silverback_VII 4y ago>more neuron to deal with more sensory inputs. This makes some sense. However nature certainly does optimize as you can see with the sensory resolution from your hand vs the one from your back.
- agumonkey 4y agoI know, I mentioned "like us", there are optimizations, just not necessarily the same as the one we'd put in place. ps: note that I'm not knowledgeable about the topic, I'm just picturing an easy coupling between more cells and more neurons. It might be a totally different reason, maybe whales have a different metabolysm / development causing more brain mass for unrelated reasons :)