man , we ca n’t promise the fashion to a smart fair sex ’s marrow is to dress in sporty coloring material , but it ’d probably act upon if she was a guppy . distaff guppies with large brains show a taste for brilliantly dark Male , while those with small brains do not .
One of the theory for why humans evolved such big encephalon is that they impressed potential couple . But what about the other side ? It accept a certain amount of processing power to decide who you require to get it on with . Does mentality power matter in prefer a mate ? Let ’s face up it , we all have it off very smart mass who make dull decisions about love .
It ’s easier to study such thing in a comparatively simple animal than in humans , and few species have had their sex lives as closely examine as guppies ( Poecilia reticulata).Dr Alberto Corral - Lopezof Stockholm University compare the pairing decisions of big and small brain distaff guppies , usingprevious researchshowing that for rainbow fish at least , ( brain ) size of it does issue .
Male guppies are colorful , and females are known to favour the most highly ornamented blokes . In part , this is because bright colors powerfully correlate with foraging power and good wellness , desirable trait to pass on to children . There is also a self - reenforce component . Even if colorful males were no healthier , it is in a female ’s evolutionary interest to engender with a male whose trait will be attractive to future generation .
InScience Advances , Corral - Lopez reports he used two strain of female Lebistes reticulatus , severally breed for big and small brains , along with a third group resembling those found in the natural state . The most and least colored male guppy Corral - Lopez found uncovering were set in freestanding tank car . The female was put in a third tank where she could see either male , but not both simultaneously .
Both the big - brained and gaga - type female guppies showed a strong preference for drop time where they could gaze on the advantageously - look wooer . Wild - type guppy actually showed a somewhat stronger preference in this regard than the big - brained smorgasbord , but the difference was not statistically significant .
On the other deal , small - brained distaff guppies spent the same time moon over potential mate disregarding of coloring . Corral - Lopex and colleague tested , and rule out , the theory that there was something faulty with some of the rainbow fish ' color perception . Since all the guppies showed a similar capability to respond to colors the authors were left with one determination : If you ’re as dazed as a small - brained guppy , tell the difference between hot and not overloads the genius cell . It ’s wanton to just switch a coin .
It ’s getting easygoing to see why bigger brains , despite all the extra energy they use , have proven an evolutionary benefit .
