This web exhibit was first built in 2000 by Patricia Anne Kinser, Haverford College, under the direction of Paul Grobstein, Bryn Mawr College. The updated version of Comparative Neuroanatomy and Intelligence is now online at http://serendipstudio.org/exchange/brains. This old version has been archived in place, and will continue to be available for teachers and students who are using it.

Home Page

Compare Brains

• Pictures
  
• Similarities
  
• Differences

Compare Brain and Body Sizes

• Brains & Bodies
  
• Equalize body size
  
• Equilize brain size

Compare Brain Structures- Slices and Slides

• Directional terminology
  
• Sagittal cuts
• Main structures
• What's the point: magnification

The Neuron- Up Close and Personal

• Jello, mush, or neuron?
  
• Neurons in animals
  
• What is a neuron?
• Fun facts

The Question of Intelligence

• Why do we care?
  
• Methods for studying brain & intelligence

Links

Glossary

Bibliography

Evaluation of brain and body size is important in studies about intelligence. When comparing animals and their levels of intelligence, one method is to look at respective brain sizes.

On the next couple of pages will be a series of tables designed to help us visualize brain and body sizes and develop questions from them. The table below shows brains proportional to the size of the animal pictured. Click on the pictures of the animals to read specific information about the species.

approx Human brain length=15cm approx brain weight=1400g	approx body length=100cm approx body weight=62,000g
approx Baboon brain length= 8cm approx brain weight=140g	approx body length=75cm approx body weight=30,000g
approx Monkey brain length=5cm approx brain weight=100g	approx body length=30cm approx body weight=7,000g
approx Camel brain length=15cm approx brain weight=680g	approx body length=200cm approx body weight=529,000g
approx brain weight=1700g	approx body length=10 feet approx body weight=160,000 g
approx Kangaroo brain length=5cm approx brain weight=56g	approx body length=150cm approx body weight=35,000g
approx Cat brain length=5cm approx brain weight=30g	approx body length=60cm approx body weight=3,300g
approx Raccoon brain length=5.5cm approx brain weight=39g	approx body length=80cm approx body weight=4,290g
approx Rabbit brain length=5cm approx brain weight=12g	approx body length=30cm approx body weight=2500g
approx Squirrel brain length=3cm approx brain weight=6g	approx body length=20cm approx body weight=900g
approx Frog brain length=2cm approx brain weight=0.1g	approx body length=10-12cm approx body weight=18g

Now look at this chart to see the approximate values delineated above or go to . . .

How do the brains compare when the animal pictures are in proportion?

What if all these animals had the same body size?

What if all these animals had the same brain size?

Why should I care about this kind of comparison??

Huh? Can we start over?