According to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports and carried out by a group of neuroscientists at the University of Alberta in collaboration with the University of Lethbridge, it has been found that the remarkable intelligence of parrots can come from a neural circuit .
This discovery is an example of convergent evolution between the brains of birds and primates (and indirectly of humans). “An area of the brain that plays an important role in the intelligence of primates is called the pontine nucleus,” explained Cristian Gutiérrez-Ibáñez, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology . “This structure transfers information between the two largest areas of the brain, the cortex and the cerebellum, allowing for higher-order processing and more sophisticated behavior. In humans and primates, pontine nuclei are large compared to other mammals. This has a lot to do with our cognitive abilities. “
Birds, on the other hand, have very small pontine nuclei but a similar structure called the medial spiriform nucleus (SpM) that has similar connectivity . Located in a different part of the brain, the SpM works the same as the pontine nuclei, circulating information between the cortex and the cerebellum. “This cycle between the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum is important for planning and executing sophisticated behaviors,” said Doug Wylie, professor of psychology and co-author of the new study.
The research started from the analysis of a total of 98 samples of brain of birds, comparing with each other different complete sizes, sizes of cavities and relative sizes of the SpM (comparing in turn this nucleus with the rest of the brain). The brains of chickens, waterfowl and even owls were studied and it was determined that parrots have a much larger SpM nucleus than other birds, despite the fact that their brain, in size, is not the largest.
“The SpM is very large in parrots. Actually, it is two to five times greater in parrots than in other birds, such as chickens,” Gutiérrez said. “Regardless of their size, parrots have developed an enlarged area connecting the cortex and cerebellum, similar to primates. This is another fascinating example of a convergence between parrots and primates. It begins with sophisticated behaviors, such as the use of tools and the self-awareness. This can be seen in both brains. The more we look at the brains, the more similarities we see. “
Building on this discovery, the team of neuroscientists plans to study SpM in parrots in more detail to understand what kinds of information are circulating there and why . “This could present an excellent way to study how the similar process, based on pontine nuclei, occurs in humans,” Gutiérrez added. “It could give us a way to better understand how our human brains work.”
