Evolutionary change has resulted in the brains of some vertebrate species being larger than would be predicted based on their body size.The larger brain size is mostly due to an increase in surface area and is made possible by the convolutions of the cerebral cortex.This contributes primarily to
A) increased cognitive capacity.
B) increased running ability.
C) decreased energy needs.
D) less association cortex.
E) a larger brainstem.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The increase in surface area of the cerebral cortex allows for more neurons and synapses, which can lead to increased cognitive capacity in vertebrate species with larger brains.

Answer: C 
 While increased brain size may require more energy overall, the increase in surface area due to convolutions can allow for more efficient neural processing, potentially decreasing the overall energy needs of the brain.

Answer: D 
 Association cortex is the part of the cerebral cortex responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, such as memory, perception, and decision-making. A decrease in this area would likely result in decreased cognitive capacity, which is not consistent with the observed larger brain sizes in some species.

Answer: E 
 Brainstem size is not generally affected by the increase in surface area of the cerebral cortex, and therefore would not contribute significantly to the larger brain size observed in some vertebrate species.

Evolutionary Change Has Resulted in the Brains of Some Vertebrate