Urban animals are 'smarter' than rural

Urban mammals have a more developed brain than their rural counterparts.

Biologist Snell-Rood from the University of Minnesota and colleagues studied the skulls of 10 different mammals, from which he considered their adaptation to the urban environment.

Artwork: W ikimedia Commons

According to Snell-Rood's calculations, the skull size and rat brain in urban areas are 6% larger than rural rats. The results are similar to the shrews and bats in Minnesota state.

Some previous studies have shown, better learning and awareness are related to larger brain size. Many scientists deny this study.

Figure: Chart comparing the size of the skull meeting of rural animals (gray) and urban (gray white) of two copper rats (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus).

According to Snell-Rood's explanation, the increase in the size of the skull and brain of living animals is due to their increased awareness and adaptation to survive and seek food. That job is more difficult than the animals living in the countryside, where there are grasslands, abundant food sources and a comfortable living space, less affected by humans.

The study shows a two-way interaction between brain development and living environment.