Birds have primate-like numbers of neurons in the forebrain
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F16%3A10326243" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/16:10326243 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1517131113" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1517131113</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1517131113" target="_blank" >10.1073/pnas.1517131113</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Birds have primate-like numbers of neurons in the forebrain
Original language description
Some birds achieve primate-like levels of cognition, even though their brains tend to be much smaller in absolute size. This poses a fundamental problem in comparative and computational neuroscience, because small brains are expected to have a lower information-processing capacity. Using the isotropic fractionator to determine numbers of neurons in specific brain regions, here we show that the brains of parrots and songbirds contain on average twice as many neurons as primate brains of the same mass, indicating that avian brains have higher neuron packing densities than mammalian brains. Additionally, corvids and parrots have much higher proportions of brain neurons located in the pallial telencephalon compared with primates or other mammals and birds. Thus, large-brained parrots and corvids have forebrain neuron counts equal to or greater than primates with much larger brains. We suggest that the large numbers of neurons concentrated in high densities in the telencephalon substantially contribute to the neural basis of avian intelligence.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>x</sub> - Unclassified - Peer-reviewed scientific article (Jimp, Jsc and Jost)
CEP classification
EG - Zoology
OECD FORD branch
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Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/GA14-21758S" target="_blank" >GA14-21758S: Evolution of brain complexity and processing capacity in birds: Cracking the problem using novel methodological approaches</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2016
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
ISSN
0027-8424
e-ISSN
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Volume of the periodical
113
Issue of the periodical within the volume
26
Country of publishing house
US - UNITED STATES
Number of pages
6
Pages from-to
7255-7260
UT code for WoS article
000379033400074
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-84976602192