A study reveals the source of the great intelligence of parrots

July 3 (UPI) – Neuroscientists in Canada have identified the neural circuit responsible for the awesome intelligence of parrots.

The circuit is similar to the neural structure known to provide primates with their improved intelligence, an example of "A region of the brain that plays a major role in the intelligence of primates called Pontic nuclei" said Cristian Gutierrez-Ibanez, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alberta. Release. "This structure transfers information between the two largest areas of the brain, the cortex and the cerebellum, allowing higher order processing and more sophisticated behavior."

The findings – detailed this week in the journal Scientific Reports – could also give insights into the neural origins of human intelligence.

"In humans and primates, pontine nuclei are large compared to other mammals," Gutierrez-Ibanez said. "It makes sense given our cognitive abilities."

The brains of birds have a relatively small pontine nucleus, but another region called the medial spiriform nucleus provides better connectivity between the cortex and the cerebellum of birds [19659006]. The region of the brain, the spiriform medial nucleus, or SpM, functions in the same way as the small pontine nuclei

"This loop between the cortex and the cerebellum is important for the planning and execution of sophisticated behaviors" says researcher Doug Wylie.

When scientists studied the size of SPM among 98 different bird species, including chickens, owls and waterfowl, in addition to parrots, they found that psittacines had medial spiriform nuclei significantly larger.

"Spm is very large in parrots, it is actually two to five times larger in parrots than in other birds, like chickens," said Gutierrez. "Independently, parrots have evolved an enlarged area that connects the cortex and the cerebellum, similar to primates. It's another fascinating example of convergence between parrots and primates."

The Improved Area Probably Explains Self-Consciousness and the Use of Tools The discovery could help scientists better understand the role of pontine nuclei in the human brain.

"This could be a great way to study how a similar process, based on pontines, could be used, occurs in humans," Gutierrez said. "It could give us a way to better understand how our human brains work."