Traditional attempts to understand the evolution of human cognition compare humans with other primates. This research showed that relative brain size covaries with cognitive skills, while adaptations that buffer the developmental and energetic costs of large brains (e.g. allomaternal care), and ecological or social benefits of cognitive abilities, are critical for their evolution. To understand the drivers of cognitive adaptations, it is profitable to consider distant lineages with convergently evolved cognitions. Here, we examine the facilitators of cognitive evolution in corvid birds, where some species display cultural learning, with an emphasis on family life. We propose that extended parenting (protracted parent–offspring association) is pivotal in the evolution of cognition: it combines critical life-history, social and ecological conditions allowing for the development and maintenance of cognitive skillsets that confer fitness benefits to individuals. This novel hypothesis complements the extended childhood idea by considering the parents' role in juvenile development. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses, we show that corvids have larger body sizes, longer development times, extended parenting and larger relative brain sizes than other passerines. Case studies from two corvid species with different ecologies and social systems highlight the critical role of life-history features on juveniles’ cognitive development: extended parenting provides a safe haven, access to tolerant role models, reliable learning opportunities and food, resulting in higher survival. The benefits of extended juvenile learning periods, over evolutionary time, lead to selection for expanded cognitive skillsets. Similarly, in our ancestors, cooperative breeding and increased group sizes facilitated learning and teaching. Our analyses highlight the critical role of life-history, ecological and social factors that underlie both extended parenting and expanded cognitive skillsets. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Life history and learning: how childhood, caregiving and old age shape cognition and culture in humans and other animals’.

中文翻译：

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长期养育和认知的进化

理解人类认知进化的传统尝试是将人类与其他灵长类动物进行比较。这项研究表明，大脑的相对大小与认知技能有关，而缓冲大大脑的发育和能量成本的适应（例如异母照顾）以及认知能力的生态或社会效益对于它们的进化至关重要。为了理解认知适应的驱动因素，考虑具有趋同进化认知的远缘谱系是有益的。在这里，我们研究了鸦科鸟类认知进化的促进因素，其中一些物种表现出文化学习，重点是家庭生活。我们认为，长期养育（长期的亲子关联）对于认知的进化至关重要：它结合了关键的生活史、社会和生态条件，允许发展和维持认知技能，从而为个体带来健康益处。这一新颖的假设通过考虑父母在青少年发展中的作用来补充延长童年的想法。通过系统发育比较分析，我们发现鸦科动物比其他雀形目动物具有更大的体型、更长的发育时间、更长的养育时间和更大的相对大脑尺寸。对具有不同生态和社会系统的两种鸦科动物的案例研究强调了生活史特征对青少年认知发展的关键作用：长期养育提供了安全的避风港、获得宽容的榜样、可靠的学习机会和食物，从而提高了生存率。在进化过程中，延长幼年学习期的好处是可以选择扩展的认知技能。同样，在我们的祖先中，合作繁殖和群体规模的扩大促进了学习和教学。我们的分析强调了生活史、生态和社会因素的关键作用，这些因素是长期养育和扩展认知技能的基础。本文是主题“生命史与学习：童年、看护和老年如何塑造人类和其他动物的认知和文化”的一部分。