Empty headed? Largest study of its kind proves ‘bird brain’ is a misnomer
When they fly, it is difficult to know what the birds are thinking, but Australian and Canadian scientists have gained some extraordinary new opinions by watching the heads of the birds.
Evolutionary biologists at the University of Flindis University in South Australia and neurosumi researchers at the University of Lesbridge, Canada explored a new method to create a number “in the area in the empty space in the empty space of the birds. “Born” to reproduce the brain space of extinction and live birds.
Published today Biological letterThis research was led by Flinders’ “Bone and Diversity Lab” Iwaniuk laboratory At the University of Lethbridge at the University of Alberta at the University of Alberta, the head bone of the long -dead bird’s dry museum can provide detailed information about species brain, including birds, including birds The main computing center’s intelligence and flexibility center.
By comparing the historical microscopy of the brain with the number of binocarbaris in the bird’s inner brain, this discovery is possible, in the largest research of 136 species.
Aubrey Keirnan, a doctorate in Flindis University, said: “This indicates that the two are very consistent, so that the actual brain does not need to estimate the proportion of bird brain.”
“Although ‘bird brain’ is often used as insult, the bird’s brain is too large, which is almost a brain box with a beak. We decided to test whether the brand of the brain on the cranial bone reflects the actual brain. The proportion of key parts.
In the joining of researchers at the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Rice Bridge, Alberta Province, the group scanned the skull of 136 kinds of birds, and they also had micro -brain section or document data.
This allows them to determine whether the volume of the two important brain parts (front brain and cerebellum) corresponds to the surface area that occurs internally.
The very close match between the “real” and the “number” brain surprised the researchers.
“We use calculated micro -transmission to scan the bone bone. This enables us to fill the brain in a digital manner to obtain the brain’s brand, also known as” internal connection “.” Associate Professor Vera WeisBeckerFrom the School of Science and Engineering of the University of Flints.
“The correlation is close to 1: 1. We didn’t expect it. But this is good news, because it enables us to deeply understand the elusive, rare and even extinct species of neurosatutology, and we don’t even see their brains.”
Associate Professor Vera Weisbecker said that advanced digital technology is providing continuously improving visits for some of the oldest problems in animal diversity.
“The greatness of digital ending is that they are non -damaged. In the past, people need to pour liquid latex into the brain shell, wait for solidification, and then break the skull to get the inner end.
“Using non -broken scanning can not only create internal loads from the rare birds, but also generate digital files that can share with scientists and the public.”
The University of LETHBRIDGE has a broad background of bird brain research background Professor Andrew IvanikHe and Associate Professor Wesbeck led the study, and he said that he did not expect such a obvious correlation between brain tissue and inner rats.
“Although most of the tail brain can be seen from the outside, a large part of the cerebellum is covered by the area. In addition, the poultry brain has” folds “, which is usually called the large blood vessel obstruction of the pillow sinus.” Professor iwaniuk said.
“In view of the obscure levels between species may be different, I hope that there is a strong correlation between the area of the embryo surface and the volume of the brain of all species.”
Professor Iwaniuk added that the study provided support for other scientists’ existing research, including modern birds on the verge of extinction and even species of extinction.
However, the team said that the application of data to dinosaurs is the most extinct relative of birds and remains to be observed.
Ms. Kyanan added: “For example, crocodiles are the closest relatives of birds, but their brains look similar to the heads of birds, and their brain does not have enough brain box to fill enough information.”
You can accurately estimate from the digital brain (2025) articles that accurately estimate the Avian tail and cerebellum volume (2025). Harmony Vera Weisbecker published. Biological letter (Royal Society magazine) DOI: 10.1098/RSBL.2024.0596
photo: Polly Aubrey KeirnanPress Release-Keirnan and so on. 2025 -Dropbox
More information contact:
Tania Bawden, a media consultant of the University of Flinders Telephone: +61 08 8201 5768
mob: +61 (0) 434 101 516 emaiiL: tania.bawden@flinders.edu.au networkThe news.flinders.edu.au
Professor Vera Weisbecker, School of Science and Engineering, University of Science and Engineering, University Telephone: +61 08 8201 2724 mob: +61 0487 385 214 Email: vera.weisbecker@flinders.edu.au
Aubrey Keirnan, a doctoral candidate for the School of Science and Engineering of Flindis University mob: +61 0413 075 293 Email: Aubrey.keirnan@flinders.edu.au
