Birds are not born knowing the songs they will sing; they have to
observe and imitate others to pick it up, just like humans. This shows
that humans may be somewhat similar to birds. Neurologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center worked with his colleagues to research the topic to better understand it. The team analyzed tissue from three different humans, measuring the amount of particular molecules
made by a gene to determine how active it is. They compared the results of the humans
with brain tissue from birds that are capable of vocal imitation and singing like songbirds, hummingbirds and parrots, and as well as to birds that
don’t like doves and quails. Jarvis and his colleagues found that the
vocal-learning birds and humans share a same pattern of activity in about 40 genes in areas of the bird brain called Area X and the anterior striatum in human brains. They also found similar patterns of activity in a
different region of about 40 genes involved in speech and song production.So the next time you get angry at someone and call them a "birdbrain," think again because it is not really an insult. It would rather be stating a fact for we humans are more similar to birds than we knew!
the amount
of particular molecules made by a given gene to determine how active it
is. They compared the results with brain tissue from bird species
capable of vocal imitation and song learning — such as songbirds,
hummingbirds and parrots — as well as birds that don’t, such as doves
and quails. - See more at:
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.DQbYWfTH.dpuf
the amount
of particular molecules made by a given gene to determine how active it
is. They compared the results with brain tissue from bird species
capable of vocal imitation and song learning — such as songbirds,
hummingbirds and parrots — as well as birds that don’t, such as doves
and quails. - See more at:
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.DQbYWfTH.dpuf
“Birdbrain”
may not be much of an insult: Humans and songbirds share genetic
changes affecting parts of the brain related to singing and speaking,
new research shows. - See more at:
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.DQbYWfTH.dpuf
NOS Themes:
- Science is collaborative- Neurologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center worked with his colleagues to research the topic.Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf
Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpufNeurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpufNeurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpufNeurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpufNeurobiologist Erich Jarvis of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and colleagues - See more at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain#sthash.4imDszrv.dpuf - Science is based on evidence- The same results that bird tweets and the human language evolved from a genetic change in the same area of the brain was found as a trend from all the tests the team did.
- Importance of repeatability- The team did tests on many different genes to see if birds share genetic changes like humans.
Article Link:
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348340/description/Bird_human_tweets_come_from_similar_parts_of_the_brain
Related Links:
- http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/8370/description/Birds_ancestors_had_small_genomes_too
- http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/4073/description/City_Song_Birds_sing_higher_near_urban_traffic
- http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/9277/description/Purring_birds_teach_their_chicks_to_beg
I read in another article that birds and humans (and bats) have a common ancestor that they evolved from. Not only do birds learn to sing the same way as humans learn to speak, but birds and humans also have the same forearm structure; even though we've got arms and birds got wings. Interesting, eh?
ReplyDeleteLink to other article:
http://askabiologist.asu.edu/human-bird-and-bat-bone-comparison
I read that bird brains and human brains are alike in another way; we both look for food in the same manner. Research shows that a hummingbird will change what it eats depending on the food available to them, like how at the supermarket we'll change brands if the one we like isn't there.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/05/030522083303.htm
President Obama in his state of the union address said that we need to map out the human brain. As you mentioned in your post the songbird and humans have similar brain structure. Since the human brain is very complex, researchers could start by mapping out the songbird's brain and then using the new knowledge they could map out the human brain.
ReplyDeleteThere was a show on NPR and an article in the Star Tribune on 3/3/13.
http://www.coolearth.org/306/news-32/rainforest-news-155/bees-use-electric-fields-1880.html
I found your article to be super interesting Michelle! I was so fascinated that I decided to look up more things about the bird brain relating to the human brain! I found an article called "Roots of Language in Human and Bird Biology: Genes Activated for Human Speech Similar to Ones Used by Singing Songbirds" by neurobiologist Erich Jarvis, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. He goes into large detail about his studies on the molecular pathways that songbirds use while learning to sing. In his past experiments, his research team found that songbirds have a connection between the front of the brain and the nerves in the brainstem that manage movement in muscles that make songs in birds. He discovers that humans also have this learning pathway for speech.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130214111604.htm
This article is very interesting. It is weird how different we can appear and how similar we can be. It would be interesting if an experiment was done with birds in captivity. If they could only hear one song, is that what they would sing? A whole new world of opportunity could be opened up and new birds could be born. In this article (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3214/03-brain.html), I learned that birds are more vocally sophisticated than chimpanzees and other primates closely related to humans.
ReplyDelete