By studying how birds master songs used in courtship,
scientists at Duke University have found that regions of the brain involved in
planning and controlling complex vocal sequences may also be necessary for
memorizing sounds that serve as models for vocal imitation.
In a paper appearing in the September 2012 issue of the
journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers at Duke and Harvard universities
observed the imitative vocal learning habits of male zebra finches to pinpoint
which circuits in the birds’ brains are necessary for learning their songs.
journal reference:
Nature Neuroscience >>