Group size and cognitive processes

Animal group sizes may exert important effects on various cognitive mechanisms. Group size is believed to exert pressures on fundamental brain structures that correlate with the increased social demands placed on animals living in relatively large, complex and dynamic social organizations. There is strong experimental evidence connecting social complexity, social learning and development of other […]

Group size and social interactions are associated with calling behavior in Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis)

The complexity of a social group may influence the vocal behavior of group members. Recent evidence in Carolina chickadees, Poecile carolinensis, indicated that one component of social complexity, group size, influenced the complexity of the “chick-a-dee” call, a vocalization functioning in social cohesion. Individuals in larger social groups used calls with greater information than did […]