One idea I've proposed for this is that is mostly correlation and just a little causation. Like assume going bigger is in an easy to get a little bit smarter, b

One idea I've proposed for this is that is mostly correlation and just a little causation. Like assume going bigger is in an easy to get a little bit smarter, but at a large energy cost. Then EQ measures how willing the animal is to invest in additional smarts. If it's willing to invest energy, then it will also mean that evolution will favor intelligent animals more strongly so it will evolve other ways of becoming smarter than just going bigger. Perhaps more faster or more efficient neurons or better mactro structure. And those other things are where the major benefits come from.