Kaj_Sotala comments on Boksops -- Ancient Superintelligence? - Less Wrong

-2 Post author: MBlume 30 December 2009 11:12AM

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Comment author: jimrandomh 30 December 2009 03:28:53PM *  6 points [-]

Brain size sets an upper bound on intelligence, but it doesn't determine it. There are plenty of species with brains much larger than ours that are nevertheless very stupid, and there's little or no correlation between brain size and intelligence among humans. Since the Boskops appear to have not gone anywhere and not left behind any signs of writing or technology, the logical conclusion is that they weren't smart enough to have either.

Comment author: Kaj_Sotala 31 December 2009 09:51:36AM *  4 points [-]

and there's little or no correlation between brain size and intelligence among humans.

Not exactly true. (Non-paywalled draft paper here). According to that meta-analysis, the correlation between brain volume and intelligence is 0.41 for female adults, 0.37 for female children, 0.38 for male adults and 0.22 for male children.