The DOI matches its Crossref record; 132 of the 132 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Brains, Innovations and Evolution in Birds and Primates
Open accessAbstract
Several comparative research programs have focused on the cognitive, life history and ecological traits that account for variation in brain size. We review one of these programs, a program that uses the reported frequency of behavioral innovation as an operational measure of cognition. In both birds and primates, innovation rate is positively correlated with the relative size of association areas in the brain, the hyperstriatum ventrale and neostriatum in birds and the isocortex and striatum in primates. Innovation rate is also positively correlated with the taxonomic distribution of tool use, as well as interspecific differences in learning. Some features of cognition have thus evolved in a remarkably similar way in primates and at least six phyletically-independent avian lineages. In birds, innovation rate is associated with the ability of species to deal with seasonal changes in the environment and to establish themselves in new regions, and it also appears to be related to the rate at which lineages diversify. Innovation rate provides a useful tool to quantify inter-taxon differences in cognition and to test classic hypotheses regarding the evolution of the brain.
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“Among birds, those that are larger-brained (corvids, parrots and owls) are also considered the most intelligent (Lefebvre et al., 2004).”
From The human brain in numbers: a linearly scaled-up primate brain (2009) · cites this paper as Lefebvre et al., 2004
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“In contrast, the encephalization hypothesis argues that an increase in brain volume relative to body size was of primary importance (108, 110, 111, 123).”
From The evolution of self-control. (2014) · cites this paper as [110]
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Cites
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Research works printed but not linked: 1
- 10.1037//0033-295X.94.4.439 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The human brain in numbers: a linearly scaled-up primate brain
Herculano-Houzel, S. (2009) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/neuro.09.031.2009 · Cited by 1,778
“Among birds, those that are larger-brained (corvids, parrots and owls) are also considered the most intelligent (Lefebvre et al., 2004).”
Dunbar, R., & Shultz, S. (2007) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1145463 · Cited by 1,580
Big brains, enhanced cognition, and response of birds to novel environments
Sol, D., Duncan, R. P., Blackburn, T. M., Cassey, P., & Lefebvre, L. (2005) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0408145102 · Cited by 917
Self-citationEvolution of the brain and intelligence
ROTH, G., & DICKE, U. (2005) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2005.03.005 · Cited by 890
“[8]). Among birds, corvids, parrots and owls are considered more intelligent [ 11 ], and among mammals, primates and cetaceans [12].”
Ecological implications of behavioural syndromes
Sih, A., Côté, J., Evans, M., Fogarty, S., & Pruitt, J. N. (2012) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01731.x · Cited by 892
“More detailed work on a few species suggests that innovative species tend to have an exploratory BT, and to be good problem solvers perhaps because they have large brain regions associated with problem solving (Lefebvre et al. 2004).”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Lefebvre, L., Reader, S. M., & Sol, D.
- Affiliations
- McGill University (CA)
- Venue
- Brain, Behavior and Evolution
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2004
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 233-246
- ISSN
- 0006-8977 (ISSN-L)
- 1421-9743
- OpenAlex
- W2112831044
- Cited by
- 666
- References
- 132
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 57 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 43
- FWCI
- 3.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Brain Behavior and Evolution (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Keywords
- behavioral innovation, brain size, cognition, birds, primates, hyperstriatum ventrale, neostriatum, neocortex, striatum, tool use, learning, seasonal adaptation, range expansion, diversification rates, brain evolution, comparative cognition
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Birds, Brain, Biological Evolution, Primates
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