Bird-brained: Convergent Evolution of Cognition Between Birds and Modern Humans
Open AccessHistorically, modern humans have viewed themselves as the apex of evolution. The story we weave of the pinnacle of complexity is our own story; to peer into the future of other species’ intelligence, we look backwards at our path. Thus, to pinpoint where major behavioral innovations occurred (such as technology and language) and how these leaps were made, we focus on the animals most closely related to us. As a result, the standard for intelligence in research is based on how similar it is to that of modern humans. A case in point is our conception of birds. At first glance, we share little in common. They are small, winged, tiny-brained creatures that seemingly fly around without much purpose, inspiring this notion of them as dim-witted, hence the term “bird-brained.” Yet, in focusing only on our overall differences, we have overlooked birds as a significant comparative model for the evolution of complexity, one that takes a completely different evolutionary path from our own. Birds display analogous behavioral complexities to modern humans such as tool-use, problem solving, and vocal learning, as well as close cognitive achievements such as memory, learning, planning, and innovation, though they rely on different neural mechanisms. This raises the question of ‘when,’ ‘how,’ and ‘why’ more advanced cognitive thinking develops. Under what conditions did birds begin their cognitive journey? Was there an evolutionary push, or did the changes occur by chance? And further, what, if anything, can birds tell us about our own path to intelligence? I aim to explore the behavioral and cognitive similarities between modern humans and birds and the potential for convergent evolution. I examine the biological context, and the neural mechanisms involved, and any resemblances between tool-making and vocal-learning in birds and modern humans. And lastly, I investigate the ecological contexts of these parallel developments.
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MangelsdorfGrimm_gwu_0075M_15991.pdf | 2022-10-04 | Open Access |
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