大象的認知

許多當代動物行為學學者認為大象已知最聰明的動物之一。它們的大腦重量平均比5公斤(11磅)多一點,超過任何其他現存且已確認過的陸生動物大腦;同時,雖然大型鯨魚的體重可達大象平均值的20倍,但其大腦重量僅是大象大腦重量平均值的兩倍。大象有大約2570億個神經元[1] 大象的大腦在一般連接性和功能區域方面,與人類和許多其他哺乳動物的大腦構造相似,但存在一些獨特的差異。大象大腦的神經元數量大約是人腦的三倍[2];然而,其大腦皮質的神經元數量約為人類大腦皮質的三分之一[1]

大象表現出各種各樣的認知行為及傾向等,包括與悲傷學習模仿玩耍利他主義、使用工具憐憫合作[3]自我意識記憶溝通相關的行為[4]等。[5][6] 證據顯示大象可能理解人類藉由手指或類似物體以非語言方式溝通的能力。[7] 它們在有關方面與鯨豚類[8][9][10][11]靈長目動物相似[9][12][13]。由於大象的高智商和顯著的家庭關係表現,一些研究人員認為人類在道德上需要考慮有關方面。[14][15]

亞里士多德將大象描述為「在智慧和思想上超越所有其他動物的動物」。[16]

參看

參考資料

  1. ^ 1.0 1.1 Herculano-Houzel, Suzana; Avelino-de-Souza, Kamilla; Neves, Kleber; Porfírio, Jairo; Messeder, Débora; Mattos Feijó, Larissa; Maldonado, José; Manger, Paul R. The elephant brain in numbers. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. 2014, 8: 46. PMC 4053853 . PMID 24971054. S2CID 17022779. doi:10.3389/fnana.2014.00046 . 
  2. ^ Roth, Gerhard; Maxim I. Stamenov; Vittorio Gallese. Is the human brain unique?. Mirror Neurons and the Evolution of Brain and Language. John Benjamins Publishing. : 63–76. 
  3. ^ Plotnik, J. M.; Lair, R.; Suphachoksahakun, W.; de Waal, F. B. M. Elephants know when they need a helping trunk in a cooperative task. PNAS. 2011, 108 (12): 5116–5121. PMC 3064331 . PMID 21383191. doi:10.1073/pnas.1101765108 . 
  4. ^ Parsell, D.L. In Africa, Decoding the "Language" of Elephants. National Geographic News. 2003-02-21 [2007-10-30]. (原始內容存檔於2007-10-12). 
  5. ^ It's Time to Accept That Elephants, Like Us, Are Empathetic Beings. Animals. 2014-02-23 [2024-06-05] (英語). 
  6. ^ vea, tanner. Echo: An Elephant to Remember ~ Elephant Emotions | Nature | PBS. Nature. 2010-10-11 [2024-06-05]. (原始內容存檔於2024-06-05) (美國英語). 
  7. ^ Zimmer, Carl. Elephants Get the Point of Pointing, Study Shows. The New York Times. 10 October 2013 [10 October 2013]. (原始內容存檔於10 October 2013). 
  8. ^ Jennifer Viegas. Elephants smart as chimps, dolphins. ABC Science. 2011 [2011-03-08]. (原始內容存檔於2015-09-23). 
  9. ^ 9.0 9.1 Jennifer Viegas. Elephants Outwit Humans During Intelligence Test. Discovery News. 2011 [2011-03-19]. (原始內容存檔於12 April 2011). 
  10. ^ What Makes Dolphins So Smart?. The Ultimate Guide: Dolphins. 1999 [2007-10-30]. (原始內容存檔於2012-02-15). 
  11. ^ Mind, memory and feelings. Friends Of The Elephant. [2007-12-20]. (原始內容存檔於2011-07-18). 
  12. ^ Hart, B.L.; L.A. Hart; M. McCoy; C.R. Sarath. Cognitive behaviour in Asian elephants: use and modification of branches for fly switching. Animal Behaviour (Academic Press). November 2001, 62 (5): 839–847. S2CID 53184282. doi:10.1006/anbe.2001.1815. 
  13. ^ Scott, David. Elephants Really Don't Forget. Daily Express. 2007-10-19 [2007-10-30]. (原始內容存檔於2008-03-12). 
  14. ^ Tom, Patrick. The Debate Over Elephant Culling: Is it Ever Morally Justified to Cull Elephants? (PDF). Zambezia (University of Zimbabwe). 2002, XXIX (i): 76–81 [79] [2010-08-29]. (原始內容存檔 (PDF)於2011-06-16). 
  15. ^ Protection, World Animal. Understanding elephant empathy and their emotions. World Animal Protection. 2015-10-07 [2024-06-05]. (原始內容存檔於2023-12-05) (英國英語). 
  16. ^ O'Connell, Caitlin. The Elephant's Secret Sense: The Hidden Lives of the Wild Herds of Africa. New York City: Simon & Schuster. 2007: 174, 184. ISBN 978-0-7432-8441-7.