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Bird Brains Explain How Humans Learn to Talk

Posted by Zonk on from the internet-peepuls-speak-gooder dept.

eaglebtc writes "A team of neuroscientists at MIT have made tremendous progress in understanding how birds learn to sing: a part of the brain called the basal ganglia is primarily responsible for controlling the learning of movement and the production of speech. This circuitry is also present in humans, and it is the same way that a baby's random babbling eventually becomes the proficient speech of adults. It is hoped that this research can provide further insights into Parkinson's Disease, an inherited genetic condition that causes rapid breakdown of motor control and speech production. The full research study is available as a downloadable PDF."

10 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. But does this explain... by xenocide2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does this explain the propensity of birds in trees near parking lots to mimic the random yuppie's car alarm?

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    1. Re:But does this explain... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      actually i believe it should since the patterns that the basal ganglia uses to learn how to connect things would be affected by the constant listening to car alarms while young making them a part of the bird "vocabulary." which means that car alarms are bird slang, what for i have no idea.

      Based on my observation, I can only conclude it's bird slang for shit. More specifically "shit here".

    2. Re:But does this explain... by nametaken · · Score: 4, Funny


      Maybe, but it might also explain how that smartass Owl can tell us how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop.

  2. Brainz by MarkRose · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have a bird brain, but I'm too chicken to admit it.

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    Be relentless!
    1. Re:Brainz by daeley · · Score: 4, Funny

      That was a really fowl joke, you turkey.

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      I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
    2. Re:Brainz by MarkRose · · Score: 5, Funny

      It was there for the plucking!

      *ducks*

      --
      Be relentless!
  3. Quick, get me a corticle stimulator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Their basal ganglia are starting to depolarize!

  4. Proficient speech? by __aaitqo8496 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...it is the same way that a baby's random babbling eventually becomes the proficient speech of adults.

    Proficient speech? Have you heard the way people talk? Sometimes I'm surprised they can dress themselves in the morning.

    1. Re:Proficient speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      hey now! I'm insultified by the misrepresentationisms you been copulatin all up an' around my speechial deliverisations! And yes I can most certaintifically clothify my undeniable self in the mourning!!

  5. Re:Birds and Humans by dirtsurfer · · Score: 5, Funny

    To summarize the parent: Words mean things. ps. Good luck on that philosophy degree. Looks like you're most of the way there.