Playing for keeps |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Kerrie?P?LewisEmail author Robert?A?Barton |
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Institution: | (1) Evolutionary Anthropology Research Group, University of Durham, USA;(2) Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Box 90999, 27708 Durham, NC |
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Abstract: | The hypothesis that play behavior is more prevalent in larger-brained animals has recently been challenged. It may be, for
example, that only certain brain structures are related to play. Here, we analyze social play behavior with regards to the
cerebellum: a structure strongly implicated in motor-development, and possibly also in cognitive skills. We present an evolutionary
analysis of social play and the cerebellum, using a phylogenetic comparative method. Social play frequency and relative cerebellum
size are positively correlated. Hence, there appears to be a link between the evolutionary elaboration of social play and
the cerebellum.
Kerrie Lewis recently received her Ph.D. from the University of Durham, U.K., under the supervision of Robert Barton. She
is currently working in a postdoctoral position at Duke University, conducting research into primate numerical cognition.
Robert Barton is a Reader in Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Durham. His interests comprise primate behavior
and brain evolution. Both authors are keen advocates for the use of the comparative method in evolutionary studies. |
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Keywords: | Cerebellum Comparative method Independent contrasts Primates Social play |
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