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Bigger Not Necessarily Better, When It Comes to Brains

November 18, 2009

Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead, say scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

“Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent,” according to Lars Chittka, Professor of Sensory and Behavioural Ecology at Queen Mary’s Research Centre for Psychology and University of Cambridge colleague, Jeremy Niven. This begs the important question: what are they for?

Research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours scientists previously thought was unique to larger animals. Honeybees, for example, can count, categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces, understand ’same’ and ‘different’, and differentiate between shapes that are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

“We know that body size is the single best way to predict an animal’s brain size,” explains Chittka, writing in the journal Current Biology. “However, contrary to popular belief, we can’t say that brain size predicts their capacity for intelligent behaviour.”

Differences in brain size between animals is extreme: a whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg (with over 200 billion nerve cells), and human brains vary between 1.25 kg and 1.45 kg (with an estimated 85 billion nerve cells). A honeybee’s brain weighs only 1 milligram and contains fewer than a million nerve cells.

While some increases in brain size do affect an animal’s capability for intelligent behaviour, many size differences only exist in a specific brain region. This is often seen in animals with highly developed senses (like sight or hearing) or an ability to make very precise movements. The size increase allows the brain to function in greater detail, finer resolution, higher sensitivity or greater precision: in other words, more of the same.

Research suggests that bigger animals may need bigger brains simply because there is more to control — for example they need to move bigger muscles and therefore need more and bigger nerves to move them.

Chittka says: “In bigger brains we often don’t find more complexity, just an endless repetition of the same neural circuits over and over. This might add detail to remembered images or sounds, but not add any degree of complexity. To use a computer analogy, bigger brains might in many cases be bigger hard drives, not necessarily better processors.”

This must mean that much ‘advanced’ thinking can actually be done with very limited neuron numbers. Computer modelling shows that even consciousness can be generated with very small neural circuits, which could in theory easily fit into an insect brain.

In fact, the models suggest that counting could be achieved with only a few hundred nerve cells and only a few thousand could be enough to generate consciousness. Engineers hope that this kind of research will lead to smarter computing with the ability to recognise human facial expressions and emotions.

Comments

89 Responses to “Bigger Not Necessarily Better, When It Comes to Brains”

  1. MaRhea Wood - 2nd period on November 18th, 2009 9:08 pm

    1. Flies have a brain the size of a pinhead
    2. People or animals or insects with big brains do not mean that their intelligent
    3. Some scientists are questioning why we have brains
    4. Honeybees can count, categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces, they can understand things thaT alike and different.
    5. a whale’s brain can weigh 9 kg with over 200 billion nerve cells, and human brains can weigh between 1.25 kg and 1.45 kg with about 85 billion nerve cells. A honeybee’s brain weighs1 milligram and has fewer than 1 million nerve cells.

  2. derrellpatton1stperiod on November 19th, 2009 9:54 pm

    1.A whales brain can get up to 9 kg .
    2. A whales brain has over 200 billion nerve cells.
    3. Scientist say that in there research that a bigger animal needs a bigger brain because there is more to control in its body.
    4. Chittka said that bigger brains they don’t often find more complexity.
    5. Chittka said that we know that body size is the single best way to find out an animal’s brain size.

  3. austin xayavong 5th on November 21st, 2009 1:07 pm

    1.Honeybees for example can count categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces understand same and different.
    2.Differences in brain size between animals is extreme.
    3.We know that body size is the single best way to predict an animal’s brain size.
    4.Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals.
    5.Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent.

  4. tonya heathington 1st period on November 21st, 2009 3:38 pm

    1. Scientist think that bigger animals need bigger brains.
    2. Scientist say that animals with bigger brains ant really that intelligent.
    3.Scientists say that body size is the single best way to predict an animal’s brain size.
    4.Scientists suggests that larger animals may need larger brains simply because there is more to control.
    5. While some increases in brain size do affect an animal’s capability for intelligent behaviour, many size differences only exist in a specific brain region.

  5. terrell king 2 period on November 22nd, 2009 6:25 pm

    1. Animals with bigger brains are not always smater than people with little brain.
    2.Insects are able to do some things like mammals
    3.Tiny insects brain are the size of a pinhead
    4.Tiny insects have lots of nerouns
    5.bigger mammals have bigger nerves to control them

  6. Andrew Crisp 1st Period on November 23rd, 2009 8:43 am

    1.Differences in them is a fly’s brain is smaller and more quick than a animal brain.
    2.This adds detail, images, or sounds.
    3.Research suggests that bigger animals may need bigger brains simply because there is more to control.
    4.Engineers hope that this kind of research will lead to smarter computing with the ability to recognise human facial expressions and emotions.
    5.The models suggest that counting could be achieved with only a few hundred nerve cells and only a few thousand could be enough to generate consciousness.

  7. Matthew Eppard 1st Period on November 23rd, 2009 8:48 am

    1. Tiny animals might possibly be as smart as bigger animals.
    2. If an animal has a bigger brain then another animal it doesn’t mean it’s smarter.
    3. Insects are capable of doing things that bigger animals can’t do.
    4.Honeybees can count and catorgorize simalar ojects.
    5.Diffrences in brain sizes can differ for diffrent animals.

  8. max stephenson 2nd on November 23rd, 2009 11:38 am

    1. Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead, say scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

    2. “Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent,” according to Lars Chittka,

    3. Ecology at Queen Mary’s Research Centre for Psychology and University of Cambridge colleague, Jeremy Niven. This begs the important question: what are they for?

    4. Research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours scientists previously thought was unique to larger animals. Honeybees

    5. for example, can count, categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces, understand ’same’ and ‘different’, and differentiate between shapes that are symmetrical and

  9. Michael Worshim-6th on November 23rd, 2009 7:49 pm

    Tiny insects have a brain the size of a pinhead.
    Difference in brain size in animals is out of this world.
    Just because an animal is bigger doesnt mean its smarter.
    Honybees understand different and same.
    small neruon number still means that animals can think more advanced.

  10. sarah christopherson 5th on November 24th, 2009 5:06 pm

    1 insects are tiny but are intelligently big animals
    2 they only have a brain the size of a pinhead
    3 scientist are from queen mary university of london
    4 scientist say animals with bigger brain are not always more intelligent
    5 research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behavior

  11. Elizabeth Sanders 1st period on November 29th, 2009 12:45 pm

    Article Summary for November 30, 2009

    ~ Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent

    ~Bigger animals need bigger brains because there is more to control

    ~ Advanced thinking can actually be done with very limited neuron numbers.

    ~Brain size cant predict the capacity for intelligent behavior

    ~ Size increases allows the brain to function in greater detail,finer resolution

  12. Brady Purdin(2nd Period) on November 29th, 2009 5:38 pm

    11/29/09 Article: Bigger Not Necessarily Better, When It Comes to Brains

    1. Tiny insects have the brain size of a penhead.
    2. Body size is the best way to predict the size of a brain.
    3. If a big animal has a bigger brain than another animal, it doesn’t matter.
    4. Honeybees can count and catorgorize simalar ojects.
    5. Differences in brain sizes can differ for different animals.

  13. Dylan Clark 4th period on November 29th, 2009 9:28 pm

    1) Small insects could be smarter than larger animals.
    2) Small insects have very small brains but big brains dont always mean something is smart.
    3) Insects are capable of some smart actions scientist previously thought was unique to bigger animals.
    4) For example, honeybees can count, catergorize similiar objects like dogs and human faces, understand same and different, and be able to detect shapes that are symmetrical and asymmetrical.
    5) A whale’s brain can get up to 9 kg and have over 200 billion nerve cells and a human brain’s weight can vary from 1.25 kg to 1.45 kg having up to 85 billion brain cells whereas a honeybee’s brain only weighs 1 mg and has under a million nerve cells.

  14. Chase Massey-5th Period on November 30th, 2009 5:03 pm

    1. Scientists say that animals with bigger brains aren’t really that intelligent.
    2. Tiny insect’s brains are about the size of a pinhead.
    3. If an animal is bigger, dosen’t mean it’s any smarter.
    4. A whale’s brain can get up to nine killograms!
    5. Tiny insects have alot of neurons.

  15. Emily Woodard on November 30th, 2009 5:08 pm

    1. Tiny animals might possibly be be as smart as bigger animals.
    2. The brain size is different depending on the size of the animal.
    3 Honybease can count and catorgorids smaller objeecks.
    4 if an animal has a bigger brain that doesnt always meen it is smarter.
    5. insecks sometimes can do more than bigger animals….such as insecks.

  16. deondre surles6th period on November 30th, 2009 5:12 pm

    Dogs can remember human faces.

    Honeys bees can count.

    Small insects have brains smaller than a pinhead.

    Brain sizes between animals is a lot.

    Brain sizes helps you function the body better.

  17. Savannah Meagher 2nd on November 30th, 2009 5:19 pm

    1. Tiny insects could beas intelligent as much bigger animals, dispite having a brain the size of a pinhead say scientist at Quenn Mary, University of London.
    2.Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligant.
    3.Honeybees can count, categorize similar objects like dogs or human faces, understand same and different and differentaite between different shapes that are symmetrical and asymmectrical.
    4.We knnow that body size is the best way to predict how big their brain is.
    5. A honeybee’s braiin inly weights 1 milligram and contains fewer than 1million nerve cells.

  18. Maysie Spears- 4th period on November 30th, 2009 5:45 pm

    1. Animals with bigger brains are not always smater than humans.
    2. Some smaller animals such as insects, can do some things we humans can do.
    3. Some say that animals that are smaller are sometimes smarter.
    4. Honeybees can actually catorize and count similar objects.
    5. Tiny insects have many neuorons.

  19. Zach Bennett 1st period on November 30th, 2009 6:05 pm

    Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals
    Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent
    Differences in brain size between animals are way off on sizes
    bigger animals may need bigger brains simply because there is more to control
    insects brain are the size of a pinhead

  20. kathryn walls 6th period science on November 30th, 2009 6:06 pm

    1.Differences in them is a fly’s brain is smaller and more quick than a animal brain.
    2.This adds detail, images, or sounds.
    3.Research suggests that bigger animals may need bigger brains simply because there is more to control.
    4.Engineers hope that this kind of research will lead to smarter computing with the ability to recognise human facial expressions and emotions.
    5.The models suggest that counting could be achieved with only a few hundred nerve cells and only a few thousand could be enough to generate consciousness.

  21. Raine Aslan - 4th period on November 30th, 2009 6:11 pm

    1. Even though some animals have a small brain, they could be just as intelligent as bigger animals.
    2. The size of an animal’s brain doesn’t necesarily tell how smart it is.
    3. A whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg, while a honeybee’s brain weighs only 1 milligram.
    4. Honeybees are very intelligent, even though their brain only weighs 1 milligram.
    5. If the brain is bigger, it functions in better detail.

  22. madison extine-5th period on November 30th, 2009 6:26 pm

    Tiny insects could be smarter as much bigger animals

    “We know that how big it is the single best way to see an animals size of its head

    While some increases in brain size do affect an animal’s actions for smart behaviour

    This must mean that much ‘smarter thinking can be done with very few cell numbers

    reserch shows that incects are realy smart and some thimes smarter than bigger animals

  23. Elijah Hurskin 4th period 11/30/09 4:50 pm on November 30th, 2009 6:37 pm

    1)Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead.
    2)This was said by scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.
    3)According to Lars Chittka,animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent.
    4)Research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours scientists previously thought was unique to larger animals.
    5)Honeybees can count, categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces, understand ’same’ and ‘different’, and differentiate between shapes that are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

  24. amari anderson- ortiz p.1 on November 30th, 2009 6:39 pm

    1. small insects have about the same sized brain as many large animals.

    2. honey bees can categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces.

    3. a whales brain can weigh up to 9 kg.

    4. a honeybee’s brain weighs 1 milligram and contains fewer than 1 million nerve cells.

    5. some research suggests that bigger animals may need bigger brains because there is more to control.

  25. brett stoddard 5th period on November 30th, 2009 6:53 pm

    Tiny insects could be as smart as big animals
    They have a brain the size of a pinhead.
    The size of different living species is extremly different
    Scienctist say the bigger you are the bigger brain cause you have more to control.
    This research may lead them farther then they thought

  26. Jenna Marshall 1st period on November 30th, 2009 7:06 pm

    ~Tiny insects could be as smart as bigger animals than them.

    ~Although they have a brain the size of a pinhead.

    ~Tiny insects are capable of some intelligeny behaviors.

    ~Brain size does not always betermine the amount of intelligent behavior.

    ~Bigger animals may need bigger brains just because there is more to control.

  27. alex 4th period on November 30th, 2009 7:10 pm

    1. Bigger brains are not always better.

    2.Scientists say that Animals with bigger brains are not neccesarily smarter.

    3.They also say that larger animals may need larger brains because there is more to control.

    4.Body size is the best way to tell how smart an animal is.

    5. Bee’s brain weighs only 1 milligram and yet still has almost a million nerve cells.

  28. Taylor Brown (period 5) on November 30th, 2009 7:19 pm

    1.A whale’s brain can have over 200 billion nerve cells
    2.Honey bees are very smart
    3.An animals size has nothing to do with wether or not it is smart
    4.Researchers think that larger animals have larger brains because there is more to control
    5.Advanced thinking can be done with less neurons than thought

  29. takara alexander 5th pd on November 30th, 2009 7:31 pm

    . Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals
    . they also have a brain size of a pinhead
    . chittka said that not all bigger animals are intelligent
    . chittka said that in biger brains we dont find more complexity
    . chittka said we know that body size is the single best way to predict a single brain size

  30. rachel whorton 2nd on November 30th, 2009 7:49 pm

    1) Tiny insects have a brain the size of a pinhead.
    2) If an animal has a bigger brain than the other doesn’t mean its smarter.
    3)Honeybees can count and categories similar objects like dogs or human faces but they cant understand things that are alike or different.
    4)Tiny insects have a lot of neurons.
    5)Bigger animals have bigger nerves to control them.

  31. Devin Platts on November 30th, 2009 8:06 pm

    1. A whales head can weigh up to 9 kilograms.
    2. Incects can do things that bigger animals are not able to do.
    3. Just because animals have bigger brains does not mean they are smarter.
    4. Just because tiny incects have small brains does not mean they are not smart they can be smarter than bigger animals.
    5. Flies have a brain the size of a pinhead.

  32. Sam Neighbors 2nd on November 30th, 2009 8:14 pm

    1. Insects have alot more intelligents then we thenk they have.

    2.The flys brain is as big as a pen head.

    3. Just because an animal is bigger doesn ‘t mean it ’s smarter.

    4.You just need a few thousand bran cells to gane consciousness.

    5.Animals that have bigger brains are not nessasaerly more intelegent,for exemple a wale brain is begger than a humans but humans are smarter.

  33. Abby Hicks 1st period on November 30th, 2009 8:17 pm

    This article is about how bigger is not necessarily better, when it comes to brains. Small insects might be as smart as animals that are larger than them, even though they have a tiny brain that is like a pinhead in size. Some animals, like honeybees, have the ability to count, see the similarities in dogs and the faces of humans, know about contrasts, and figure out the difference between shapes that are symmetrical and asymmetrical. When the brain is larger, the brain can work in better detail, sharper resolution, more sensitivity or better accuracy. Consciousness can be made with tiny neural circuits. Research might lead to smarter computing with being able to determine human emotions and expressions.

  34. John Parvin McBride-2nd on November 30th, 2009 8:55 pm

    1.)Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals.
    2.)Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent.
    3.)Honeybees can count, categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces, understand ’same’ and ‘different’, and differentiate between shapes that are symmetrical and asymmetrical.\
    4.)Differences in brain size between animals is extreme.
    5.)While some increases in brain size do affect an animal’s capability for intelligent behaviour, many size differences only exist in a specific brain region.

  35. max Stephenson 2nd on November 30th, 2009 9:06 pm

    1. Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead, say scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

    2. “Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent,” according to Lars Chittka, Professor of Sensory and Behavioural Ecology at Queen Mary’s Research Centre for Psychology and University of Cambridge colleague, Jeremy Niven.

    3. Research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours scientists previously thought was unique to larger animals.

    4. Honeybees, for example, can count, categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces, understand ’same’ and ‘different’, and differentiate between shapes that are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

    5. “We know that body size is the single best way to predict an animal’s brain size,” explains Chittka, writing in the journal Current Biology. “However, contrary to popular belief, we can’t say that brain size predicts their capacity for intelligent behaviour.”

  36. Lucas Seibel 1st on November 30th, 2009 9:21 pm

    1. the flies brain is only the size of a pinhead
    2. bees can count, categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces, understand ’same’ and ‘different’, and differentiate between shapes that are symmetrical and asymmetrical.
    3. An animals size does not make a difference in its intelegents
    4. Some scientist think larger aninals need larger brains so they can have more control
    5. Small animals have more nuerons than bigger ones

  37. Courtney Terry per.4th on August 31,2009 on November 30th, 2009 9:25 pm

    1. Tiny incsects have lots of nervouns.
    2. Tiny incsects brains are the size of a pinhead.
    3. Bigger mammal shave bigger nerves to control them.
    4. A whales brain can get up to 9kg.
    5. Whales brains have over 200 billion nerve cells.

  38. Avery Wilson 4th per. on November 30th, 2009 9:36 pm

    Most tiny insects have a brain the size of a pinhead.
    Animals with with bigger brains arent necassarily more intelligent.
    Honeybess can count and do many other things.
    Diffeferences between animal’s brain size is exteme.
    A whale’s brain can weigh up to 9kg, while a human only 1.5kg.

  39. John Baudendistel 4th Period on November 30th, 2009 10:05 pm

    1.Honeybees for example can count categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces understand same and different.
    2.Differences in brain size between animals is extreme.
    3.We know that body size is the single best way to predict an animal’s brain size.
    4.Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals.
    5.Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent.

  40. James Russell 6th on November 30th, 2009 10:18 pm

    small insects could be as smart as bigger animals.
    tiny insects brains are about the size of a pen cap.
    Honeybees can count.
    bigger animals need bigger brains so they are more in control.
    thinking can be done with very little neurons

  41. Joshua Sanchez-6th on November 30th, 2009 10:46 pm

    1. Tiny insects might be as intelligent as bigger animals.
    2. They have a brain size of a pin head.
    3. Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more inteligent,
    4. A whales brain can be as big as 9 kg.
    5. Bigger brain means that the organism might have a larger hard drive but does not mean that they can process things better.

  42. SHAQUERA WADE 6 on November 30th, 2009 10:48 pm

    ~Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent,” according Lars Chittka……
    ~Diffrences in brain sizes can differ for diffrent animals……
    ~Honeybees can count and catorgorize simalar ojects…….
    ~Scientist say that in there research that a bigger animal needs a bigger brain because there is more to control in its body…….
    ~small neruon number still means that animals can think more advanced…..

  43. TA'NAISHA HILL 5 on November 30th, 2009 10:50 pm

    1. Tiny animals might possibly be as smart as bigger animals.
    2. If an animal has a bigger brain then another animal it doesn’t mean it’s smarter.
    3. Insects are capable of doing things that bigger animals can’t do.
    4.Honeybees can count and catorgorize simalar ojects.
    5.Diffrences in brain sizes can differ for diffrent animals.

  44. connor ferguson 1st period on November 30th, 2009 11:34 pm

    1.Tiny insects could be more intelligent than larger animals.
    2.Just because your brain is bigger doesn’t mean you are more intelligent than others.
    3.Honeybees can count, categorise similar objects, and find the difference between shapes that are symmetrical or asymmetrical.
    4.And the honeybees brain weighs one millogram and has less than 1,000,000 nerve cells.
    5.Advanced thinking could be done with low nueron numbers.

  45. Tara Harville on December 1st, 2009 8:39 am

    1. Size doesn’t matter because insects can be just as smart as bigger animals although it has a very small brain.
    2. Honeybees can count and see differences in similar objects like dogs or human faces.
    3. Flys have the size of pinballs brain.
    4. Tiny insects have alot of nuerons.
    5. A whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg.

  46. TARRELL CLEMONS 1ST PERIOD 12-10-09 on December 1st, 2009 9:04 pm

    Tiny insects have a brain the size of a pinhead.
    Difference in brain size in animals is out of this world.
    Just because an animal is bigger doesnt mean its smarter.
    Honybees understand different and same.
    small neruon number still means that animals can think more advanced.

  47. Julia Harrelson 5th Period on December 5th, 2009 2:41 pm

    1.Tiny inscets could be intelligent as bigger animaks
    2.If a animal is big it doesn’t mean it is smarter than a little animal.
    3.Research shows that bugs can have intelligent behaviors.
    4.A whales brain can weigh between 1.25 kg to 1.45 kg.
    5.A whale brain is predicted to have 85 billion nerve cells.

  48. Madeline Holifield 4th period science on December 6th, 2009 6:33 pm

    1.Bees have a brain the size of a pin head
    2.Research suggests that bigger animals may need bigger brains simply because there is more to control
    3. Honeybees can actually categorize
    4.Research shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviors scientists before thought was unique to larger animals.
    5.Some smaller animals such as insects, can do some things we humans can do.

  49. Kaila Poleon 4th Period on December 7th, 2009 8:46 am

    1. Tiny insects can be just as smart as large animals even if their brains are the size on a pinhead.

    2. Scientists have done reaserch and have learned that a bee can tell same and different and things like that.

    3.Scientists say larger animals only have bigger brains because there is more to control.

    4.You dont technically need alot of neurons in your brain to be smart.

    5.Differences between the sizes of brains is incredible.

  50. Owen Clarke on December 7th, 2009 3:52 pm

    1. A whales brain can weigh up to 9kg.
    2.Body size or brain size doesn’t matter when it comes to ingenuity.
    3.Advanced thinking can be done with limited neuron cells.
    4.Bigger brains have more complexity and repititions.
    5.A honeybees brain wieghes 1 milligram.

  51. Mauhaun Taheri 1rst period on December 7th, 2009 5:10 pm

    1.Small insects can be smarter than big animals ,but their head is the size of a penhead.
    2.The big animals shave the nerves in the body.
    3.The brain of a whale is 9 kg.
    4.There are about 200 million brain cells in the whale.
    5.The brain size do affect an animal’s capability for intelligent behavior.

  52. christopher kirby on December 7th, 2009 5:24 pm

    1.Some small insects can be smarter than big animals.
    2.Differnce in size brain between animal and bugs are extreme.
    3.Honeybees can count and cactories objects.
    4.Bigger animals need bigger brains so they dont get out of control.
    5.Thinking can be done very little with insects.

  53. Andrew Patterson on December 7th, 2009 6:05 pm

    Insects are disgusting. All of them are.

  54. Sophia Fos. 4th period. on December 7th, 2009 6:19 pm

    Scientists are now figuring out that brains can process and work great even if they are the size of a pinhead. The bigger the brain does not mean the more intelligence, it just means your body is bigger and needs more and bigger nerve cells to control your movements and such. A honeybee can count, categorize, and tell same and different. A honeybees brain, though, holds less than 1 billion nerve cells (not alot). But still counting is said to take only a couple hundred nerve cells and consciousness about a thousand. So it is basically saying that the bigger the brain the more information you can store, but it doesn’t mean that you can think with higher complexity. Hopefully with this understanding scientists will be able to have smarter computing skills.

  55. claire Lorino 4th on December 7th, 2009 6:36 pm

    1. when it comes to intelligence size doesn’t matter because insects can be just as smart as other larger animals.
    2.They have a brain size of a pin head.
    3.4. A whales brain could be as big as 9 kg.
    4. The whales brain is so much bigger than some insects but the size of the brain doesnt matter.
    5.Small animals have more nuerons than bigger ones

  56. Noah Milchuck - 5th period on December 7th, 2009 7:20 pm

    1. There brain is the size of a pin head.

    2. Just because the living organism is bigger, doesn’t mean that it is smarter.

    3. A whales head can weigh up to 9 kilograms.

    4. Scientists say that the bigger you are the more control you have depending on your brain size.

    5. The article is about small bees can just be as smart as bigger organisms.

  57. Brett Baird 6th on December 7th, 2009 10:34 pm

    -it doesnt matter how small you are you can still be very smart
    -it doesnt mean that you are smart if you have a big brain
    -honey bees can count
    -honey bees can catagorize dogs and human faces
    -body size is the best way to predict brain size

  58. Crystal Whitehouse --- 6th Period on December 8th, 2009 7:09 am

    ~ Even though tiny insects have very small brains, they can be just as smart as much bigger animals.
    ~ Animals with bigger brains are not always smarter
    ~ The research shows how insects, like honeybees, are capable of some smart behaviors.
    ~ Homeybees can count, categorise similar objects, understand ’same’ and ‘different’, and more.
    ~ Research suggests that bigger animals may need bigger brains because there is more to control (they need to move bigger muscles and therefore need more and bigger nerves to move them)

  59. Natalie Seavers on December 8th, 2009 8:41 am

    honey bees can catagorize as well as dogs or humans can

    body size usaly gives an accurate gess on the brain size but it does not show the cappasity

    While some people increases in brain size it also affect’s an animal’s capability for smart actions

    biger animals need bigger brains because they have a bigger body to control

    Engineers hope that this kind of research will lead to smarter workings with the bugs

  60. Marilyn Larry 6th 8dec09 on December 8th, 2009 10:13 am

    Tiny animals can be as smart as bigger animals.
    If an animal has a bigger brain it doesn’t mean that it is smarter.
    Honey bees can count.
    The whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg .
    In bigger brains you often don’t find more complexity.

  61. Anthony Pellegrini 1st period on December 8th, 2009 10:15 pm

    1. A whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg.
    2. A honeybee’s brain can be as small as one milligram.
    3. A humans brain can weigh up to 1.25, and 1.45 kg.
    4. A whale’s brain has over 200 billion nerve cells.
    5. They say that larger animals definitley need a larger brain to make controlling things easy.

  62. Stephen Doran 2nd on December 9th, 2009 5:47 pm

    1. flies brains are small as a pin head
    2.it dose not matter how big your brian is to be smart
    3.honey bees can count
    4.you can find out how big a brain is by body size
    5.a wheles head can weigh as much as 9kg

  63. Kris Levasseur 2nd period on December 13th, 2009 11:33 am

    1. Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals.
    2. Differences in brain size between animals is extreme.
    3. A whales brain is 9 kg’s. The human brain is 1.25 and/or 1.45 kg’s.
    4. Research suggests that bigger animals may need bigger brains simply .
    5. Computer modelling shows that even consciousness can be generated .

  64. Ruhi Singh 2nd period on December 14th, 2009 12:15 pm

    Article summary
    1.Tiny insects could be as smart as much bigger animals.
    2.A honeybee’s brain weighs only 1 milligram .
    3. A whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg.
    4. A humans brain varys between 1.25 kg and 1.45 kg.
    5. The brain of a tiny insects is the size of a pinhead.

  65. hunter walker-1 on December 14th, 2009 4:57 pm

    1. The brain is the size of a pin head.
    2. A whales head can weigh up to 9 kg.
    3. A honey bee brain can weigh up to 1 mm.
    4. Small animals have more neurons than bigger ones.
    5. honey bees can count higher than other animals.

  66. Latraza Horton 6th period on December 14th, 2009 5:30 pm

    I learned:

    1)Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, besides only having a brain the size of a pinhead.
    2) Animals with bigger brains are not always smarter
    3). Insects are capable of doing things that bigger animals can’t do.
    4)A whale brain is predicted to have 85 billion nerve cells.
    5)Small animals have more nuerons than bigger ones

  67. Lamonte' C. Turner on December 14th, 2009 5:58 pm

    1.-Tiny insects could be more intelligent than larger animals.
    2.-Just because your brain is bigger doesn’t mean you are more intelligent than others.
    3.-Honeybees can count, categorise similar objects, and find the difference between shapes that are symmetrical or asymmetrical.
    4.-And the honeybees brain weighs one millogram and has less than 1,000,000 nerve cells.
    5.-Advanced thinking could be done with low nueron numbers.

  68. Summer Berthelson-4th period 12/14/09 on December 14th, 2009 7:03 pm

    1) tiny animals might be as smart as big animals
    2) honeybees can count andcatoragize similar objects
    3) the size doen’t affected how smart it is
    4) a whales’ brain can weigh 8 kg while a honeybee’s only weighs 1 milligram
    5) bigger animals need bigger brains so they don’t get out of control

  69. Caroline Whorton 6th on December 14th, 2009 7:57 pm

    1. Animals that have bigger or better brains arent always smarter than animals with smaller brains
    2. Animals that are bigger need bigger brains to control their body.
    3. Researchers will lead to smarter computing with their research about brains.
    4. With a few hundred nerve cells, researches think that counting can possibly be achieved.
    5. Advanced thinking can be done with very little neuron cells.

  70. KELSEY SCHRONCE 5th PERIOD on December 14th, 2009 9:10 pm

    1. Scientist think that bigger animals need bigger brains.
    2. Just because the living organism is bigger, doesn’t mean that it is smarter.
    3.Honeybees can count and cactories objects.
    4. Some scientist think larger aninals need larger brains so they can have more control
    5. Bee’s brain weighs only 1 milligram and yet still has almost a million nerve cells.

  71. hunter webber 6th on December 14th, 2009 11:05 pm

    1.) know matter was size you are u can still be smart
    2.) honey bees have the the skill to count
    3.) a whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg
    4.) a heoneybee’s brain weighs less that 1 milgram
    5.) fly’s have a brain around the size of a pin head

  72. Robert McClintock 2nd on December 14th, 2009 11:44 pm

    Lars Chittka, Professor of Sensory and Behavioural Ecology, says “Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent.” Even tiny animals with brians that are no bigger than a larger animal’s can be more intelligent. Honeybees for a example, they have great math skills like dogs and humans. A humans brian weigh bewteen 1.45kg through 1.25kg compared to bee’s brian which ways 1 miligram. Studies show the increase of brain size do affect an animal’s capability for intelligent behaviour, many size differences only exist in a specific brain region

  73. Scott Urban Period 5 on December 28th, 2009 7:50 pm

    a honey bees brain is only 1miligram
    9kilograms is how much a whales brain wheighs
    just because little aoimals have small brains deos not mean that bigges animals are smarter
    the size of a flys brain is the size of a pin head
    u cannot believe that bees can count

  74. Elijah Hurskin 4th period 1/11/10 8:34 pm on January 11th, 2010 6:44 pm

    1)Insects could be as smart as much bigger animals.

    2)Research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours.

    3)Honeybees, for example, can count, categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces.

    4)A whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg.

    5)Honeybee’s brain weighs only 1 milligram.

  75. Kathryn Wilson 4th on January 11th, 2010 6:55 pm

    1. The size of an insects brain doesnt nessacarily have to do with intelligent.
    2. Small insects could be smarter than larger insects.
    3. The brain of a whale can weigh up to 9 kg.
    4. Honey bees are very smart and can count and categorize.
    5. Advanced thinking could be done with low nueron numbers.

  76. hunter walker-1 on January 11th, 2010 10:01 pm

    a honeybees brain weighs less than i mm.
    bees can have the skill to count.
    a whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg.
    the brain is the size of a pinhead.
    the size of a honeybee doesn’t matter how smart it is.

  77. Andrew Crisp 1st period on January 12th, 2010 8:58 am

    1.Honeybees for example can count categorise similar objects like dogs or human faces understand same and different.
    2.Honey bees have the the skill to count.
    3.Insects are capable of doing things that bigger animals can’t do.
    4.A whale’s brain has over 200 billion nerve cells.
    5.Small insects have very small brains but big brains dont always mean something is smart.

  78. Devin Platts 1st period on January 13th, 2010 8:45 am

    1. It does not that you are not smart if your brain is small.
    2.A whales brain can weigh up to 9 kg.
    3.A honeybees brain weighs up to 1 milligram.
    4. Insects can be as smart as bigger animals.

  79. Andrew Patterson on January 15th, 2010 12:14 pm

    Some things have different size brains. some have big brains, others have small brains. Brains are big, others are small. I have a big brain.

  80. Reagan Locke 4th on January 17th, 2010 10:33 pm

    Animals with bigger brains are not always smarter than humans.Some smaller animals such as insects, can do some things we humans can do. Insects are capable of doing things that bigger animals can’t do.A whales brain can get up to 9 kg .Researchers will lead to smarter computing with their research about brains.

  81. Amanda Baer-Peckham 4th period on January 18th, 2010 5:32 pm

    Scientists have found out that animals that have bigger brains does not mean they are smarter. They have seen that insects are cable of having certain intelligent behaviors. Bees can count and categories similar objects. Bigger animals have bigger brains so they are more in control. In bigger brains there is not so much complexity but just endless repetition of the same neural circuits over and over. Advance thinking can be done with a smaller amount of neurons.

  82. Kelsey Schronce 5th period on January 18th, 2010 9:58 pm

    1Scientist think that bigger animals need bigger brains.
    2 Scientist say that animals with bigger brains are not really morere intelligent.
    3Scientists say that body size is the single best way to predict an animal’s brain size.
    4Scientists suggests that larger animals may need larger brains simply because there is more to control.
    5 While some increases in brain size do affect an animal’s capability for intelligent behavior many size differences only exist in a specific brain region.

  83. Andrew Patterson on January 19th, 2010 8:48 pm

    Bugs are gross

  84. John Baudendistel on February 1st, 2010 5:16 pm

    1. Tiny animals might possibly be as smart as bigger animals.
    2. If an animal has a bigger brain then another animal it doesn’t mean it’s smarter.
    3. Insects are capable of doing things that bigger animals can’t do.
    4.Honeybees can count and catorgorize simalar ojects.
    5.Diffrences in brain sizes can differ for diffrent animals.

  85. austin xayavong 5th on February 13th, 2010 12:00 am

    1.Scientist think that bigger animals need bigger brains and stuff.
    2.Honybease can count and catorgorids smaller objeecks.
    3.Tiny animals might possibly be as smart as bigger animals.
    4.Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent,” according to Lars Chittka, Professor of Sensory.
    5.Research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours scientists previously thought was unique to larger animals.

  86. Chance fisher 2nd on February 19th, 2010 3:03 pm

    1.animals got bigger brain then human
    2. we know there body size is single
    3. While see there brain size is little
    4. Queen mary the un london
    5. The fact of suggest

  87. Allison Dreisewerd ~ 4th period on March 22nd, 2010 7:03 pm

    This article is about bigger not nessesary when it comes to brains. What that means is that insects with smaller brains may still be as smart as animals with larger brains researchers say. Bigger animals need bigger brain to control so that means they are not nessesarily smarted than the small animals. Some animals, like honeybees, have the ability to count, see the similarities in dogs and the faces of humans, know about contrasts, and figure out the difference between shapes that are symmetrical and asymmetrical. Research might lead to smarter computing with being able to determine human emotions and expressions.

  88. Elijah Hurskin 4th period on March 28th, 2010 9:34 am

    1)Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals.
    2)this was said by scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.
    3)Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent,” according to Lars Chittka.
    4)Research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours scientists previously thought was unique to larger animals
    5)Differences in brain size between animals is extreme: a whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg (with over 200 billion nerve cells), and human brains vary between 1.25 kg and 1.45 kg (with an estimated 85 billion nerve cells). A honeybee’s brain weighs only 1 milligram and contains fewer than a million nerve cells.

  89. austin xayavong 5th on May 8th, 2010 5:32 pm

    1.Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals.
    2.research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behavior.
    3.Differences in brain size between animals is extreme: a whale’s brain can weigh up to 9 kg (with over 200 billion nerve cells).
    4.and human brains vary between 1.25 kg and 1.45 kg (with an estimated 85 billion nerve cells).
    5.A honeybee’s brain weighs only 1 milligram and contains fewer than a million nerve cells.

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