The surprising organization of avian brains

(Ruhr-University Bochum) Some birds can perform amazing cognitive feats - even though their forebrains seem to just consist of lumps of grey cells, while mammalian forebrains harbour a highly complex neocortex. A study conducted by a research team at Ruhr-Universit ä t Bochum (RUB) and researchers from D ü sseldorf, J ü lich and Aachen reveals for the first time amazing similarities between the neocortex of mammals and sensory brain areas of birds: both are arranged in horizontal layers and vertical columns.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news