Alarm calls and referentiality in Australian magpies: between midbrain and forebrain, can a case be made for complex cognition?

摘要: The ability to communicate intentionally and referentially about predators by issuing specific unique alarm calls per predator type, usually considered indicative of forebrain activity, is generally regarded as evidence complex cognition. However, the neurobiology such expressions not well-understood relationship song clear. In very few studies brain activity in non-songbirds songbirds so far, it was found that only midbrain involved production calls. paper argues even so-called referential signalling, may have been misconstrued higher cognition when, fact, be merely a well-preserved (even 'clever') survival mechanism prey species, based on instantaneous 'non-thinking' activities midbrain. This does rule out that, species songbird types calls, indeed involve interaction nuclei forebrain. Such possible vocalisations (unlearned learned) has also shown some songbirds, including zebra finch. A study Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen), prolific songbird, used here give an example responses calling behavioural evidence.