Learning capabilities enhanced in harsh environments: a common garden approach ? Proceedings BAbstract
Previous studies have suggested that the ability to inhabit harsh environments may be linked to advanced learning traits. However, it is not clear if individuals express such traits as a consequence of experiencing challenging environments or if these traits are inherited. To assess the influence of differential selection pressures on variation in aspects of cognition, we used a common garden approach to examine the response to novelty and problem-solving abilities of two populations of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). These populations originated from the latitudinal extremes of the species's range, where we had previously demonstrated significant differences in memory and brain morphology in a multi-population study. We found that birds from the harsh northern population, where selection for cognitive abilities is expected to be high, significantly outperformed conspecifics from the mild southern population. Our results imply differences in cognitive abilities that may be inherited, as individuals from both populations were raised in and had experienced identical environmental conditions from 10 days of age. Although our data suggest an effect independent of experience, we cannot rule out maternal effects or experiences within the nest prior to day 10 with our design. Nevertheless, our results support the idea that environmental severity may be an important factor in shaping certain aspects of cognition.
Whenever I point out that the different races have different average cognitive skills I get called racist (true, depending on the definition of racist) and ignorant. I could care less about being called racist because the term is so overused and meaningless nowadays but I hate being called ignorant because it is obviously untrue. It is the people who deny the measureable differences and ignore the vast interlocking mountain of evidence who are ignorant, usually on purpose. I can understand those who score in the triple digits (old scale) on the SATs not being able to follow logic because that is what the tests measure to a large extent. But why do smart people suddenly get brain cramps when the topic is human differences? I can even understand those who just want to avoid politically incorrect subjects but why do so many smart people mouth platitudes and excuses even after they have been shown to be false?
The above study abstract demonstrates that the mechanism of harsh environment selecting for greater cognitive skills is seen in other species besides humans. A past thread ran 20 pages with no answers, only insults, when I asked for evidence that blacks were as intelligent as whites (on average). No one was able to give a theory or describe the mechanisms which would lead to the observed reality around us. My side does have a theory that is backed up over and over again. My side describes the mechanisms of how differences are physically demonstrated and inevitable.
My side describes reality and the other side wishes that reality would change. There is no real magic folks, no amount of believing in Tinkerbell is going to change things.