As dumb as a dolphin? Study shows big brain doesn't equal big smarts

Dolphins may be one of the friendliest animals out there, but - contrary to widely-held belief - they may not be the brightest.

Researchers from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg say that a dolphin's large brain may not correlate to intelligence - in fact, its size is influenced by climate.

Dr. Paul Manger, who led the study, says that a dolphin's brain develops a lot of insulating material called "glia" to protect it from the dolphin's cold habitats.

While there is a lot of glia in the brain, there aren't many neurons, which essentially help the dolphins think and gain knowledge.

However, Manger says even though dolphins are not as intelligent as other species like goldfish - which can jump out of an enclosed space, a feat that dolphins can't overcome according to the study - they certainly are as happy as we perceive.

The scientists found an increased amount of serotonin in dolphins, which Manger describes as "the happy drug".

Dolphin intelligence still supported
But scientists from the Vancouver Aquarium are saying that this research could still be unreliable.

They say that dolphins live very complex and social lives, and are still able to keep account of their surroundings and encounters.

The study was published in the journal, Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society.
Photography: Hawai'i Coral Reef Network

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, August 18 edition