easytexts.blogspot.com :: Bigger not necessarily better, when it comes to brains

According to¹ experts from Queen's Mary Centre for Psychology and the University of Cambridge, a bigger brain² doesn't mean more intelligence. Even tiny³ insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours⁴, for example honeybees can count, classify things that look similar like dogs or human faces and tell when a shape⁵ is symmetrical or not.

Animal brains hugely⁶ vary in size. The brain of a whale may reach⁷ 9 kg, that of a human weighs⁸ up to 1.45 kg, whereas⁹ a honeybee's brain weighs just one milligram. Bulky¹⁰ brains are certainly more precise¹¹ and far better at going into details. However, a bigger brain is not more complex than a small one, it's just a repetition of the same neural circuits over and over¹². To use a computer analogy, bigger brains are like bigger hard drives¹³, not necessarily better processors.

This must mean that advanced thinking can be achieved¹⁴ with a relative small number of brain cells. Counting could require¹⁵ just a few hundred and a few thousands might be enough to generate consciousness. Engineers¹⁶ now expect to be able to apply¹⁷ this type of research in building computers with the ability to recognise facial expressions and emotions.

1 According to: prep.phr. In the opinion of 2 brain: n. the organ for thinking 3 tiny: adj. very small, diminute 4 behaviours: n. the way people and animals act 5 shape: n. outline, eg. rectangle, triangle, circle, etc. 6 hugely: adv. greatly 7 reach: vt. get to, be 8 weighs: vi. has weight, is heavy 9 whereas: conj. while, on the other hand 10 Bulky: adj. big, large 11 precise: adj. exact 12 over and over: expr. once and again, again and again 13 hard drives: n. part of a computer where data is permanently stored 14 achieved: vt. carry out, make 15 require: vt. demand, need 16 Engineers: n. the experts that make machines 17 apply: vt. put in use

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Bigger not necessarily better, when it comes to brains ENGLISH According to¹ experts from Queen's Mary Centre for Psychology and the University of Cambridge, a bigger brain² doesn't mean more intelligence. Even tiny³ insects are capable of some intelligent behaviours⁴, for example honeybees can count, classify things that look similar like dogs or human faces and tell when a shape⁵ is symmetrical or not. Animal brains hugely⁶ vary in size. The brain of a whale may reach⁷ 9 kg, that of a human weighs⁸ up to 1.45 kg, whereas⁹ a honeybee's brain weighs just one milligram. Bulky¹⁰ brains are certainly more precise¹¹ and far better at going into details. However, a bigger brain is not more complex than a small one, it's just a repetition of the same neural circuits over and over¹². To use a computer analogy, bigger brains are like bigger hard drives¹³, not necessarily better processors. This must mean that advanced thinking can be achieved¹⁴ with a relative small number of brain cells. Counting could require¹⁵ just a few hundred and a few thousands might be enough to generate consciousness. Engineers¹⁶ now expect to be able to apply¹⁷ this type of research in building computers with the ability to recognise facial expressions and emotions. Adapted from Science Daily, November 18th, 2009 · Level: B1 1 According to: prep.phr. In the opinion of 2 brain: n. the organ for thinking 3 tiny: adj. very small, diminute 4 behaviours: n. the way people and animals act 5 shape: n. outline, eg. rectangle, triangle, circle, etc. 6 hugely: adv. greatly 7 reach: vt. get to, be 8 weighs: vi. has weight, is heavy 9 whereas: conj. while, on the other hand 10 Bulky: adj. big, large 11 precise: adj. exact 12 over and over: expr. once and again, again and again 13 hard drives: n. part of a computer where data is permanently stored 14 achieved: vt. carry out, make 15 require: vt. demand, need 16 Engineers: n. the experts that make machines 17 apply: vt. put in use	Más grande no es necesariamente mejor, cuando se trata de cerebros ESPAÑOL Según expertos del Queen's Mary Centre for Psychology y de la Universidad de Cambridge, un cerebro más grande no implica una mayor inteligencia. Hasta los pequeños insectos son capaces de tener algún tipo de comportamiento inteligente. Así, las abejas pueden contar, clasificar cosas que parezcan similares como perros o caras humanas y decir cuándo una forma es simétrica o no. Los cerebros de los animales varían enormemente en cuanto al tamaño. El cerebro de una ballena puede pesar 9 kg, el de un ser humano llega hasta los 1'45 kg, mientras que el de una abeja pesa sólo un miligramo. Los cerebros más grandes son más precisos y mejores en distinguir detalles. Sin embargo, un cerebro más grande no tiene por qué ser más complejo que uno pequeño: es una repetición constante de los mismos circuitos neuronales. Para usar una analogía informática, un cerebro más grande es como un disco duro más grande y no implica necesariamente un mejor procesador. Esto parece indicar que se puede tener pensamiento avanzado con unas pocas células cerebrales. Para contar se podrían necesitar tan sólo unas centenares y con unas cuantas miles se podría generar consciencia. Los ingenieros esperan ahora poder aplicar este tipo de investigaciones en la construcción de ordenadores que sean capaces de reconocer las expresiones faciales y las emociones. Adapted from Science Daily, November 18th, 2009
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