as small as a world and as large as alone, underthevastblueseas: Dolphins are more...

2:00pm August 24, 2013

underthevastblueseas:

Dolphins are more emotional than humans?
Our brains share many structural similarities with dolphins. For example, we both have a limbic system, which is responsible for handling emotional information. One difference between us, however, is that the dolphins’ limbic system is much larger than ours and, says scientist Denise Herzig, it “may be stretched out over more of the brain,” indicating that “the dolphin brain may have more of a ‘global connection’ to [emotional] information”. This could mean that dolphins are more emotional than humans, and that emotions could figure more prominently throughout their thought processes.
While it might be tempting to think that increased emotions would lead to greater aggression when being backed into a corner, another compelling feature of the dolphin brain appears to account for this notion. Sterling Bunnell, in The Evolution of Cetacean Intelligence points out that the cerebral cortex, responsible for logical thought and reasoning in both humans and dolphins alike, is controlled by the emotional activity of the limbic system. This process is facilitated by what are called ‘neocortical association neurons’.
Bunnell observed that, in human studies, the ratio of these neurons to limbic-system brain stem neurons “is necessary for such qualities as …emotional self-control” and that a decreased ratio is associated with “impulsiveness, emotional instability, irritability, loss of humor”. Bunnell points out that dolphins possess a higher neocortical-limbic ratio than the average human, suggesting that their control over their own emotions is greater than what we experience.
It could be that dolphins, while being more emotional, are more emotionally stable than we are, and are therefore able to better control themselves in stressful situations.
This could also explain why dolphins are so tractable in captivity. Live dolphins are captured in Taiji and are sold to aquariums around the world. Despite being severely traumatized, Bunnell points out that, “captive dolphins… have often shown humor, empathy, and self-control that few of us could match under comparable circumstances”. Indeed. These beings are separated from their families, placed into sterile tanks that are utterly unlike any environment they’re exposed to in the wild, and are forced to perform tricks through food deprivation - if they don’t perform, they don’t eat. Yet they treat nearly every one of their customers with what appears to be kindness and understanding. Something to keep in mind the next time you accept a ‘kiss’ from a captive dolphin.
via:Ecologist

Dolphins are more emotional than humans?

Our brains share many structural similarities with dolphins. For example, we both have a limbic system, which is responsible for handling emotional information. One difference between us, however, is that the dolphins’ limbic system is much larger than ours and, says scientist Denise Herzig, it “may be stretched out over more of the brain,” indicating that “the dolphin brain may have more of a ‘global connection’ to [emotional] information”. This could mean that dolphins are more emotional than humans, and that emotions could figure more prominently throughout their thought processes.

While it might be tempting to think that increased emotions would lead to greater aggression when being backed into a corner, another compelling feature of the dolphin brain appears to account for this notion. Sterling Bunnell, in The Evolution of Cetacean Intelligence points out that the cerebral cortex, responsible for logical thought and reasoning in both humans and dolphins alike, is controlled by the emotional activity of the limbic system. This process is facilitated by what are called ‘neocortical association neurons’.

Bunnell observed that, in human studies, the ratio of these neurons to limbic-system brain stem neurons “is necessary for such qualities as …emotional self-control” and that a decreased ratio is associated with “impulsiveness, emotional instability, irritability, loss of humor”. Bunnell points out that dolphins possess a higher neocortical-limbic ratio than the average human, suggesting that their control over their own emotions is greater than what we experience.

It could be that dolphins, while being more emotional, are more emotionally stable than we are, and are therefore able to better control themselves in stressful situations.

This could also explain why dolphins are so tractable in captivity. Live dolphins are captured in Taiji and are sold to aquariums around the world. Despite being severely traumatized, Bunnell points out that, “captive dolphins… have often shown humor, empathy, and self-control that few of us could match under comparable circumstances”. Indeed. These beings are separated from their families, placed into sterile tanks that are utterly unlike any environment they’re exposed to in the wild, and are forced to perform tricks through food deprivation - if they don’t perform, they don’t eat. Yet they treat nearly every one of their customers with what appears to be kindness and understanding. Something to keep in mind the next time you accept a ‘kiss’ from a captive dolphin.

via:Ecologist