By studying songbirds’ auditory processes, we can better understand how speech and communication works in people.
Science in Action
How Do Birds Change Their Tune?
Songbirds learn their tunes from their parents when young. By swapping eggs between the nests of different bird species, Postdoctoral Research Scientist Jordan Moore, PhD, discovered a part of the brain critical for learning songs: a step toward understanding how human beings learn language when young.
Community & Friends
“During my residency, I’ve discovered that many areas of neuroscience touch on questions of timing, decision making, and deliberation — concepts most jazz musicians think about as we write music, practice with a band, and perform.”
— Helen Sung, Zuckerman Institute’s Jazz Artist-in-Residence
Latest Research
Scientists Identify Brain Region That Enables Young Songbirds to Change Their Tune
Drs. Moore and Woolley's recent publication offers insight into songbirds and humans’ remarkable ability to learn language.
Community & Friends
Some Songbirds Have Brains Specially Designed to Find Mates for Life
The New York Times feature article on songbirds, song learning, and the lab’s awesome research.
Community & Friends
“There are three different clades or taxonomic classes of birds who can learn. They're the parrots, hummingbirds, and songbirds. Songbirds, by far, are the most well-studied. And they have this unique ability to learn complex vocalizations when other animals can't do it.”
— Dr. Woolley in an interview with NPR program ‘All Things Considered’