> The idea is the larger the group, the more relationships you have to maintain, said the study's lead author Ben Ashton of the University of Western Australia.
> "So not only do you have to remember all these individuals, but you have to remember your relationship with them and how to behave appropriately with them," Dr Ashton said.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's less the direct mental workload of managing a larger social graph, but instead the greater chance to learn and push themselves (particularly at a younger age) as they are exposed to more ways of approaching problems from more peers.
To understand how learning plays out as birds age, the scientists also tested 21 juvenile birds in the groups at 100 days after leaving the nest, and again at 200 and 300 days.
While the youngest birds didn't exhibit any difference in their results, a pattern started to emerge at 200 days.
"This suggests the social environment has an effect on cognitive development," Dr Ashton said.
"It's not purely a genetic thing, there must be some kind of environmental factor at play."
These are vague terms. The birds seem smarter, however I think this would indicate little more than what can be observed in feral children, as compared to children raised in tribal circumstances or better.
Social exposure leads to imitation and collectivized learning. The innate intellect doesn’t change, but the limitations are expanded, since discovery can be diversified and not everyone needs to be an autodidact across every specialized skill.
> "So not only do you have to remember all these individuals, but you have to remember your relationship with them and how to behave appropriately with them," Dr Ashton said.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's less the direct mental workload of managing a larger social graph, but instead the greater chance to learn and push themselves (particularly at a younger age) as they are exposed to more ways of approaching problems from more peers.