Smarter through group living: A response to Smulders

Benjamin J. Ashton; Amanda R. Ridley; Alex Thornton

doi:10.3758/s13420-018-0366-6

Smarter through group living: A response to Smulders

Benjamin J. Ashton, Amanda R. Ridley, Alex Thornton

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We recently identified a strong, positive relationship between group size and individual cognitive performance, and a strong, positive relationship between female cognitive performance and reproductive success (Ashton, Ridley, Edwards, & Thornton in Nature, 554, 364–367, 2018). An opinion piece by Smulders (Learning & Behavior, https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0335-0, 2018) raised the interesting notion that these patterns may be underlined by motivational factors. In this commentary, we highlight why none of the available data are consistent with this explanation, but instead support the argument that the demands of group living influence cognitive development, with knock-on consequences for fitness.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	277-279
Number of pages	3
Journal	LEARNING & BEHAVIOR
Volume	47
Issue number	4
Early online date	10 Dec 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0366-6
Publication status	Published - Dec 2019
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Australian magpie
Cognitive ecology
Social intelligence hypothesis

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title = "Smarter through group living: A response to Smulders",

abstract = "We recently identified a strong, positive relationship between group size and individual cognitive performance, and a strong, positive relationship between female cognitive performance and reproductive success (Ashton, Ridley, Edwards, & Thornton in Nature, 554, 364–367, 2018). An opinion piece by Smulders (Learning & Behavior, https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0335-0, 2018) raised the interesting notion that these patterns may be underlined by motivational factors. In this commentary, we highlight why none of the available data are consistent with this explanation, but instead support the argument that the demands of group living influence cognitive development, with knock-on consequences for fitness.",

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AU - Thornton, Alex

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N2 - We recently identified a strong, positive relationship between group size and individual cognitive performance, and a strong, positive relationship between female cognitive performance and reproductive success (Ashton, Ridley, Edwards, & Thornton in Nature, 554, 364–367, 2018). An opinion piece by Smulders (Learning & Behavior, https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0335-0, 2018) raised the interesting notion that these patterns may be underlined by motivational factors. In this commentary, we highlight why none of the available data are consistent with this explanation, but instead support the argument that the demands of group living influence cognitive development, with knock-on consequences for fitness.

AB - We recently identified a strong, positive relationship between group size and individual cognitive performance, and a strong, positive relationship between female cognitive performance and reproductive success (Ashton, Ridley, Edwards, & Thornton in Nature, 554, 364–367, 2018). An opinion piece by Smulders (Learning & Behavior, https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0335-0, 2018) raised the interesting notion that these patterns may be underlined by motivational factors. In this commentary, we highlight why none of the available data are consistent with this explanation, but instead support the argument that the demands of group living influence cognitive development, with knock-on consequences for fitness.

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KW - Cognitive ecology

KW - Social intelligence hypothesis

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ER -

Smarter through group living: A response to Smulders

Abstract

Keywords

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