《80128-20161018曹舒阳老师阅读课C4T2P3 Animal Part 2 PPT》.pdf

•‘If the function of play was to get into shape,’ says Byers, ‘the optimum time for playing would depend on when it was most advantageous for the young of a particular species to do so. But it doesn’t work like that.’ •then there is the skills-training hypothesis. at first glance, playing animals do appear to be practicing the complex manoeuvres they will need in adulthood. But a closer inspection reveals this interpretation as too simplistic. • In one study, behavioural ecologist Tim Caro looked at the predatory play of kittens and their predatory behaviour when they reached adulthood. He found that the way the cats played had no significant effect on their hunting prowess in later life. •There is a strong positive link between brain size and playfulness among mammals in general. • because large brains are more sensitive to developmental stimuli than smaller brains, they require more play to help mould them for adulthood. •They use behaviour from a lot of different contexts - predation, aggression, reproduction. • Not only is more of the brain involved in play than was suspected, but it also seems to activate higher cognitive process.