Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

The new study done by neuroscientists from the University of Alberta reports that scientists have been successful in “pinpointing” the exact neural circuit that is responsible for intelligence in birds. This new research is an example of convergent evolution between the brains of primates and birds and would help scientists uncover more about the neurological basis of human intelligence. Cristian Gutierrez-Ibanez, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alberta said, “An area of the brain that plays a major role in primate intelligence is called the pontine nuclei. This structure transfers information between the two largest areas of the brain, the cortex, and cerebellum, which allows for higher-order processing and more sophisticated behavior. In humans and primates, the pontine nuclei are large compared to other mammals. This makes sense given our cognitive abilities.”

Birds possess extremely small pontine nuclei. Birds rather possess a similarly functioning structure that is called the medial spiriform nucleus (SpM) that works with similar connectivity. SpM is situated in a different part of the brain but it performs the same function as SpM- it circulates information between cortex and cerebellum. Doug Wylie, a professor of psychology and also the co-author of the study explained, “This loop between the cortex and the cerebellum is important for the planning and execution of sophisticated behaviors.” This groundbreaking research wasn’t carried out by the University of Alberta alone but also in collaboration with the University of Lethbridge and was published recently in the journal Scientific Reports. 

For the study, the research team segregated samples of 98 birds from a large pool of bird brains- which included brain of those of chickens, waterfowl, parrots, owls etc. The team studied the brains carefully and then compared the size of the SpM to that of the rest of the brain. They found that parrots possess a much larger SpM than that of other birds. “The SpM is very large in parrots. It’s actually two to five times larger in parrots than in other birds, like chickens”, explained Gutierrez. “Independently, parrots have evolved an enlarged area that connects the cortex and the cerebellum, similar to primates. This is another fascinating example of convergence between parrots and primates. It starts with sophisticated behaviors, like tool use and self-awareness, and can also be seen in the brain. The more we look at the brains, the more similarities we see.”

By Purnima

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