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Super-Intelligence

Posted July 14, 2011 in Learn More by Michael Mountain

(Ninth in the series Superpod One – Where It All Began)

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Brainiest of Them All?

Scientists have several ways of measuring the size and complexity of the brains of different animals. Whatever way you look at orca brains, you have to conclude that these guys are super-intelligent.

After dinner, Lori Marino gives us a general intro to the brains and intelligence of orcas. Lori is a neuroscientist and Professor of Psychology at Emory University, and the founder of The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy.

Pound for pound, she tells us, the orca brain greatly outsizes the human brain. It’s the fourth largest brain of all, while humans come in 23rd. Where humans score highest is in the ratio of brain size to body size, as you see on this chart:

Another way of measuring braininess is surface area, which is very important. We humans have to pack a lot of brain into a space that can’t grow any bigger (otherwise we’d get stuck while trying to be born). So, the way we’ve expand our brains is by having more surface area – i.e. more folds and wrinkles.

Relative size difference of post-mortem killer whale brain and human brain.

Orcas have done the same thing, as you can see from the photos. They seem to be packing even more brain surface than humans into the available space in their heads.

Lori explains how their brains are organized quite differently from ours. Audio and visual areas are closer together than in our case, and this makes for faster and more complex processing power.

So, who’s the brainiest of them all? We don’t know for sure, but a case could be made for saying that many dolphin species (of which orcas are one) outdo humans in terms of the processing power of their brains.

Lori is co-author of the famous Mirror Self-Recognition Study, that showed how dolphins are one of the few species who can recognize themselves in a mirror. That’s one of ways that shows an animal as having a sense of self, meaning that they know who they are and can think about themselves objectively. It was as a result of doing this study that she concluded that keeping dolphins in captivity is completely wrong, and she has been speaking out against it ever since.

You can read about the study here, and check out an interview with Lori here.

Table of Contents

Superpod One – Where it All Began
In the summer of 2011, a group of scientists, journalists and former orca trainers met up on San Juan Island. Their week together would eventually lead to the formation of the Whale Sanctuary Project.

Off to the Island
On the ferry to San Juan Island everyone crowds onto the top deck for glimpses of dolphins, harbor seals, eagles and other animals.

First Sighting
At the Center for Whale Research, we see dorsal fins popping out of the water … just a second or two as the orcas come up for air.

Grandma J2’s Birthday Party
Grandma J2 has celebrated her 100th birthday. San Juan Island held a party in her honor. But how do they know she’d just turned 100?

T Is for Transient
As well as the “resident” pods, who spend most of their time around the islands, there are “transient” pods whose lifestyle is quite different.

Luna: the Orca Who Wanted to Be Friends
Orcas need each other’s company. So, when Luna got separated from his family, he started making friends with humans on their boats in Nootka Sound.

Out on the Ocean, Surrounded by Orcas
We’re headed out toward the open sound, and our captain is confident we’re going to see some orcas.

Orcas at the Other End of the World
The orcas line up and create a wave that will lift one side of the ice floe and tip the seal into the water.

Orca Dinner Party
The whales need 200 pounds of food every day, and Chinook salmon is the only food that the resident orcas will eat.

Super-Intelligence
Whichever way you look at orca brains, you have to conclude that these guys are super-intelligent.

Custody Battle Over a Captive Orca
An unseemly custody battle is going on between SeaWorld and Marineland over orca Ikaika, whom SeaWorld has “loaned” them.

We’ll Meet Again . . .
The group needs a name. I suggest “Superpod” in honor of what we’ve seen and shared this week. It’s agreed … and it’s just a beginning

Also on the Blog

  • Canada Bans Captivity of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises
  • Orca Brains and Intelligence
  • A Deep Dive into Environmental Analysis
  • TEDx Talk “Whales Without Walls” by Charles Vinick
  • Whale Aid Russia

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