The phylogeny of general intelligence

[anaklio]

A new study by Banerjee et al. (2009) shows that monkeys also vary in general intelligence: some monkeys are smarter than others. This findings supports the hypothesis that important aspects of human cognitive function most likely evolved from ancient neural substrates.

[PAL/SECAM]

how ancient are these substrates ?

[Enigma]

Might as well ask how ancient is evolution.

[anaklio]

As I've noted elsewhere, insects have brains and can be classically conditioned. This is a form of intelligence. I suspect thus there are then smart ants and no so smart ants. So these studies should be replicable even at that level.

[PAL/SECAM]

firstly, evolution to human runs medusae - fishes - amphibia - reptilia - mammalia, insects are bay-line and have here nothing to the point
secondly, insects arose about 400 millions of years ago, and the nervous system possessed already primitive medusae from before 2 billions (in europe milliards) of years !