Robert I. Grossman MD Dean and Chief Executive Officer | NYU Langone Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
Robert I. Grossman MD Dean and Chief Executive Officer | NYU Langone Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
A recent study by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine has uncovered new insights into how parakeets mimic human speech, which could inform future treatments for speech disorders. The team recorded the brain activity of parakeets as they produced sounds, revealing patterns previously observed only in humans during speech.
The research, published on March 19 in the journal Nature, mapped the activity of nerve cells in a part of the bird's brain known as the central nucleus of the anterior arcopallium (AAC). This area significantly influences the muscles involved in vocalization. It was found that different groups of AAC cells produce sounds similar to consonants and vowels.
Michael A. Long, PhD, senior study author and professor at NYU Langone Health, stated, "An important way to develop new treatments for speech disorders is to find animal models that can offer new insights into speech-related brain processes." He noted that understanding these brain processes could help explain communication disorders such as apraxia and aphasia.
The study also compared parakeet brains with those of zebra finches. While both species use specialized brain regions and vocal organs for sound imitation, only parrots can replicate human words. Parakeets demonstrate flexible vocal behavior akin to humans by reusing and recombining motor commands creatively.
Lead author Zetian Yang highlighted that "our results confirm that AAC neurons systematically represent vocal pitch and exert precise control over it," showing similarities with human brain activity. This positions parakeets as a valuable model for studying speech motor control.
Future research will focus on understanding higher brain functions related to decision-making in vocalizations. The study was funded by the Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain.
NYU Langone Health is recognized for its high-quality patient outcomes and comprehensive medical services across various locations. It includes two tuition-free medical schools and a substantial research enterprise supported by significant funding from the National Institutes of Health.
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