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Brain genes related to innovation revealed in birds

Wild birds that are more clever than others at foraging for food  have different levels of a neurotransmitter receptor that has been linked with intelligence in humans, according to a study led by McGill University researchers.  The findings could provide insight into the evolutionary mechanisms affecting cognitive traits in a range of animals.

The study, published in Science Advances, was conducted by McGill biologists Jean-Nicolas Audet and Louis Lefebvre, in collaboration with researchers from Duke and Harvard universities.

Barbados birds

Classified as: brain, genes, birds, glutamate, McGill University, Jean-Nicolas Audet, Louis Lefebvre, Duke University, Harvard University, McGill Bellairs Research Institute, Barbados, bullfinches
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Published on: 14 Mar 2018

City birds are smarter than country birds

By Cynthia Lee, McGill Newsroom

Life in the city changes cognition, behavior and physiology of birds to their advantage

Birds living in urban environments are smarter than birds from rural environments.

But, why do city birds have the edge over their country friends? They adapted to their urban environments enabling them to exploit new resources more favorably than their rural counterparts, say a team of all-McGill University researchers.

Classified as: environment, Biology, cognition, science and technology, animals, Behavioral Ecology, Jean-Nicolas Audet, Barbados, immunocompetence
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Published on: 21 Mar 2016
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