Sentences with phrase «vocal learning brain»

Most of the bird's vocal learning brain regions are tucked into areas that also control movement.

Not exact matches

In addition to having defined centers in the brain that control vocal learning called «cores,» parrots have what the scientists call «shells,» or outer rings, which are also involved in vocal learning.

The finding, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B by McGill researchers, highlights how learning and experience, including developmental auditory experience, can shape how the brain perceives vocal signals.

Until now, the budgerigar (common pet parakeet) was the only species of parrot whose brain had been probed for the mechanisms of vocal learning.

Neurons in the shell surrounding the established vocal centers of the parrot brain play a part in vocal learning and other complex motor behaviors, resolving controversies over the size of brain areas involved in song and speech imitation.

By examining gene expression patterns, the new study found that parrot brains are structured differently than the brains of songbirds and hummingbirds, which also exhibit vocal learning.

The research complements other work being done in Dr. Roberts» lab, including an ongoing study funded by the federal BRAIN Initiative research program to understand how the brain functions during vocal learBRAIN Initiative research program to understand how the brain functions during vocal learbrain functions during vocal learning.

«The process of learning speech requires the brain to compare feedback of current vocal behavior to a memory of target vocal sounds,» Achiro said.

The next step for scientists will be to learn how the brain rewards correct matches between feedback of current vocal behavior and the goal memory that depicts memorized vocal sounds as songbirds make progress in bringing their current behavior closer to their goal behavior, Bottjer said.

USC scientists have discovered a population of neurons in the brains of juvenile songbirds that are necessary for allowing the birds to recognize the vocal sounds they are learning to imitate.

Now, they have found that brain areas around these vocal learning centers become active when the birds flap their wings or hop around.