The Rockefeller University Field Research Center, Millbrook, NY, USA.
Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
Science. 2023 Sep 15;381(6663):1170-1175. doi: 10.1126/science.adh3428. Epub 2023 Sep 14.
Complex vocal learning, a critical component of human spoken language, has been assumed to be associated with more-advanced cognitive abilities. Tests of this hypothesis between individuals within a species have been inconclusive and have not been done across species. In this work, we measured an array of cognitive skills-namely, problem-solving, associative and reversal learning, and self-control-across 214 individuals of 23 bird species, including 19 wild-caught songbird species, two domesticated songbird species, and two wild-caught vocal nonlearning species. We found that the greater the vocal learning abilities of a species, the better their problem-solving skills and the relatively larger their brains. These conclusions held when controlling for noncognitive variables and phylogeny. Our results support a hypothesis of shared genetic and cognitive mechanisms between vocal learning, problem-solving, and bigger brains in songbirds.
复杂的声乐学习是人类口语的一个关键组成部分，人们普遍认为它与更高级的认知能力有关。在物种内部的个体之间对这一假设进行的测试尚无定论，也没有在物种之间进行过测试。在这项工作中，我们测量了 214 只 23 种鸟类的一系列认知技能，包括 19 种野生鸣禽、2 种家养鸣禽和 2 种野生非声乐学习物种，这些技能分别是解决问题、联想和反转学习以及自我控制。我们发现，一个物种的声乐学习能力越强，它们解决问题的能力就越好，相对而言大脑也就越大。当控制非认知变量和系统发育时，这些结论仍然成立。我们的研究结果支持了这样一个假设，即鸣禽的声乐学习、解决问题和更大的大脑之间存在共同的遗传和认知机制。
