Many modern dolphin brains are significantly larger than our own and second in mass to the
human brain when corrected for body size. Despite evolving along a different neuroanatomical
trajectory than human brains, cetacean brains exhibit several features that are correlated with
complex intelligence, including a large expanse of neocortical volume that is more convoluted
than our own, extensive insular and cingulate regions, and highly differentiated cellular regions.
These characteristics of dolphin brains are consistent with current behavioral evidence. In this
presentation I will discuss the neuroanatomical basis of complex intelligence in dolphins, how the
neuroanatomy provides evidence for psychological continuity between humans and dolphins, and
the profound implications for the ethics of human-dolphin interactions. Specifically, I will focus
on the growing worldwide industry of capturing and confining dolphins for amusement in marine
park shows, "swim-with-dolphin" and "dolphin-assisted therapy" facilities. Our current knowledge
of dolphin brain complexity and intelligence suggests that these practices are potentially psychologically
harmful to dolphins and present a misinformed picture of their natural intellectual capacities.
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