Why Pets Have Surprisingly Small Brains

The video explores how domestication has led to a reduction in brain size across various animals, such as ducks, cats, and pigs. It highlights the correlation between brain and body size, noting that domesticated animals have smaller brains compared to their wild counterparts. The video also discusses how domestication affects the brain's panic button, leading to tamer animals. This process involves breeding the tamest animals, resulting in further brain shrinkage and a long-term partnership with humans.

Which of the following animals has experienced the largest percentage reduction in brain size due to domestication?

• Trout

• Pigs

• Cats

• Ducks

How does brain size typically relate to body size across different species?

• Larger animals generally have smaller brains.

• Smaller animals have larger brains.

• Brain size is unrelated to body size.

• Brain size is generally proportional to body size.

When comparing wolves and dogs of the same size, which has the larger brain?

• Wolves

• Dogs

• They have the same brain size

• It depends on the breed

What part of the brain is primarily affected by shrinkage in domesticated animals?

• Panic button

• Memory center

• Vision center

• Motor skills area

Why are animals with smaller 'panic buttons' more likely to be domesticated?

• They are more intelligent.

• They are naturally tamer.

• They have better survival instincts.

• They are more aggressive.