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To: S0122017
although the assumption that they possess fully formed language has never been proved

Rather we're not smart enough to figure it out.

5 posted on 05/10/2006 5:04:43 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: mtbopfuyn
Rather we're not smart enough to figure it out.

Somebody call my name?


8 posted on 05/10/2006 5:06:33 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (Freedom isn't free, but the men and women of the military will pay most of your share)
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To: mtbopfuyn

That is what I think!
As a biology student I came across interesting facts concerning the brains of dolphins, which surprised me.

1) Their brains are larger then those of humans, even taking brain to body ratio into calculation.

2) Dolphin brains also have way more astrocytes. Astrocytes determine how much energy will be made available for neurons to use, modulate growth of the brain and development of neurons and have roles in associative and abstract thought. Usually more astrocytes means higher intelligence when it comes to animal species, and Einstein for instance had more astrocytes in his parietal lobes, which are involved in a.e. abstract mathematics.
Dogs have more than rats, apes more than dogs, humans more then apes, and dolphins more than humans.

3) Dolphins have a larger and more convoluted cerebrum than humans. More convulations means more surface area and is a sign of a more complex brain.

Everything points to dolphins having an astounding intelligence. If I had to point to what I thought was the most intelligent species on the planet strictly by looking at the brain, my first guess would not have been humans.

If dolphins had hands and legs, they may very well have been the dominant species. And we would be in their zoos performing tricks for bananas.


12 posted on 05/10/2006 5:40:59 AM PDT by S0122017
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