>It's true that dolphins have unilateral sleep. And if I
>remember correctly, dolphins also have little or non REM
>sleep.
Interesting. Do you remember your source, i'd like to dig in a bit.
The amount of time spent in REM sleep correlate
>negatively with neocortical volume.
The're many correlates with REM (also note intra-individual changes:
development and aging).
I do not understand why thier amount of REM "explains" their cortical
volume.
Only if the function is exposed I will agree. But REM doesn't relate
to function, it refers to a phenomenon.
mammal with the largest neocortex when the effect of
>body mass scaling is removed (that is, neocortical volume
>devided by bodymass^0.65) is the Echidna. The Echidna
>(also called the spiny ant-eater) is a monotreme,
>i.e. one of the most relictual mammals. For example, the
>it lays eggs and lack mammillary nipples. So the
>most relictual (primitive) mammal species has the biggest
>neocortex. Interestingly, the Echidna lack REM sleep
>all together.
So what?
>>If I am not wrong, the small amount (none?) of REM sleep
>found among dolphins fully explain their enlarged
>neocortex. But the functional role of REM sleep remain
>a mystery.
So what did you "explain"?
Thanx ffor the info though! : )