Much of what we know about how a brain makes decisions comes from studying monkeys watching dots. In a task known as a random-dot-motion task, a cloud of flickering specks drifts weakly in one direction while the subject tries to determine whether—and in which direction— it’s moving. The task has shown that in the primate neocortex, neurons gather visual evidence over time, with their firing rates climbing until they cross a threshold, when the animal commits to a decision.
But avian brains don’t have a neocortex, so it wasn’t obvious how they made similar decisions.
“This was the big question,” said Andreas Nieder, a neurobiologist at the University of Tübingen. “How [would] a differently organized avian brain encode decisions?”
More in Technology
Intel gets waiver after worries fuzzy US ban on foreign-made robots may hit fabs
October 23, 2026
RFK Jr.’s vaccine injury clinic could damage NIH hospital, board warns
October 23, 2026
Knicks sent employees fake offer of championship rings in phishing test: Report
October 23, 2026
Everybody panic: A Valve developer said "HLX" in public
October 23, 2026
The reactor meant to showcase nuclear’s comeback keeps hitting problems
October 23, 2026
ஏழைக்கு ஏத்த BSNL.. அடுத்த 80 நாட்களுக்கு வேலிடிட்டி.. அன்லிமிடெட் வாய்ஸ் கால்கள்.. 300 எஸ்எம்எஸ்!
October 23, 2026
Latest News
Green councillors face Labour deadline to disown Zionism policy
October 23, 2026
Trump says Burnham is 'getting it done' after Jackdaw decision
October 23, 2026
ICU-வுக்கு சென்ற வெள்ளி விலை.. சும்மாயில்ல பாஸ் 53% சரிவு.. என்டரி கொடுக்க இது நல்ல நேரமா..?
October 23, 2026
Intel gets waiver after worries fuzzy US ban on foreign-made robots may hit fabs
October 23, 2026
RFK Jr.’s vaccine injury clinic could damage NIH hospital, board warns
October 23, 2026
Ex-Tory campaign chief and his wife receive suspended sentences over election bets
October 23, 2026