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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups
Published on: May 13, 2022
The coevolution of innovation and technical intelligence in primates
Ana F Navarrete1, Simon M Reader2, Sally E Street3
1School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TS, UK afn2@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Large primate brains correlate with technical innovation, like tool use. Non-technical innovation also links to brain size, but indirectly through diet and life history, supporting complex co-evolution.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Behavioral innovation in birds and primates correlates with brain size.
- This suggests large brains facilitate innovation or that innovation drives brain enlargement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between primate brain size and both technical (tool use) and non-technical innovation.
- To explore causal links using phylogenetically informed regression and causal graph analyses.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetically informed regression analyses.
- Exploratory causal graph analyses.
- Examination of technical and non-technical innovation in primates.
Main Results:
- Absolute and relative brain size positively correlated with technical innovation.
- Weaker positive correlations were found between brain size and non-technical innovation.
- Technical innovation directly linked to brain size, body size, social learning, and group size.
- Non-technical innovation linked indirectly to brain size via diet and life-history variables.
Conclusions:
- Findings support 'technical intelligence' hypotheses, linking technical innovation to encephalization in primates.
- Results suggest a co-evolving complex of brain, behavior, life-history, social, and dietary variables.
- Tool use for accessing resources may drive selection for technical proficiency and brain circuitry.
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