Battling with neighbours could make animals smarter

Fighting in baboons can be fierce David Clode Like Napoleon Bonaparte, chimpanzees are masters of intergroup conflict Franceso Ungaro [chimpanzee photograph] Vigilance is key in a world of rival outsiders Andy Radford [meerkat photograph]; Michalis Mantelos [red-ruffed lemur photograph] 6 October 2020 From ants to primates, 'Napoleonic' intelligence has evolved to help animals contend with the myriad cognitive challenges arising from interactions with rival outsiders, suggest researchers at the University of Bristol in a paper published today [Tuesday 6 October]. Antagonistic and co-operative social interactions within groups have long been suggested to drive the evolution of big brains. But animals from across the social spectrum must constantly juggle threats and opportunities from outsiders too. Interactions with outsiders have been little considered in the context of cognitive evolution. Drawing on their varied backgrounds in animal cognition, intergroup conflict and social evolution, the Bristol scientists have expanded the Social Intelligence Hypothesis to include this missing social axis. Dr Ben Ashton , honorary research associate and lead author from the School of Biological Sciences , said: "Outside threats and opportunities likely present a range of cognitive challenges. Animals have to defend their territories, find mates and compete for resources - we believe negotiating such challenges requires considerable brain power." Andy Radford , Professor of Behavioural Ecology and senior author, continued: "A vast amount of time and effort in the animal kingdom is devoted to gathering information about outsiders, and to avoiding, exploiting and winning interactions with them.