animal behaviour
neurophilosophy | August 3, 2007In the English language, the term "bird brain" is often used in reference to intellectually challenged individuals. This is, of course, based on the notion that birds are dim-witted creatures whose behaviour is largely based on instinct.
The main assumption is that a six-layered neocortex, like that of humans, is a prerequisite for anything that might be classed as intelligent, and even ornithologists have generally believed that, because they have a "smooth" brain, birds aren't too clever.
However, it has in recent years become clear that we have grossly underestimated the cognitive…
neurophilosophy | July 31, 2007 Females have a natural preference for mating with dominant males, because this confers a genetic advantage upon the offspring produced. When selecting a mate, animals rely on chemical cues called pheromones, which relay information about the social status and genetic health of a potential mate.
Reproductive success therefore depends upon the encoding and recall of olfactory memories; the neural circuitry in which these memories are formed consists of the olfactory bulb and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. But although both these sites are principle regions for neurogenesis (formation…