In article <36ae19c5.402246309 at news.udel.edu>, who at cares.com wrote:
> >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! : )
Their persistant inability to develop tools to deal with constant threats
from tuna nets, killer whales, and sharks is a testament to their vastly
superior intelligence to humans.