'Neurologger' - The mind reading device of flying birds

According to scientists, this is the first study to randomly record electrical activity of the brain, combined with large-scale aerial movement of free-flying birds.

Professor Alexei Vyssotski of the University of Zurich said: 'We have successfully applied electric biochemical method. This method has previously been used in the laboratory to investigate the brain function of a free-flying bird in nature. '

The ability to find the marvelous path of pet pigeons has also been discovered. Evidence suggests that this bird can rely on the direction of the sun, the earth's magnetic field and the sense of smell and smell to find its way back. However, most notable is their ability to locate in the air.

Previous studies have shown that pigeons also rely on visual cues to fly many places. In a recent study, Vyssotski's team devised a way to use a small nerve detector to learn more about bird reflexes with what they could see. This device can record and store EEG signals, signals that reflect the burning of neurons inside the brain. He said the device includes a recording unit that weighs only 2 grams, can last up to a few days and during that time all bird flight areas will be detected by GPS.

Flock of pigeons on the way to the nest (Source: istockphoto / Huiping Zhu)

By recording the activity of the lab birds' brains and the birds flying over isolated sea areas, researchers have exploited some special information . They then tracked the devices installed in these birds as they flew over a familiar territory and other marked landmarks.

When pigeons fly over areas they can see, their brains appear a form of double-sided activation, including oscillation at high frequencies, followed by a frequency activity. average number. And according to Vyssotski, when a bird stares at something, this activity in the brain will increase.

High frequency brain waves are even a more interesting mystery. It seems to reflect the bird's flight history and identify the places they once flew. In other words, the activation of this oscillation can be associated with some high-level memory processing and brain functions.

It is interesting to note that the brain reveals that the pigeon has a special interest in some locations, which is in fact unrelated to their logic of directions. Further understanding, scientists discovered that one of those locations included a farm and a horse farm, in another case it was a rough house nearby. The mystery was deciphered only when Vyssotski came to those places. That is the place where wild pigeons reside and this is what attracts birds when flying through these areas.

Researchers say they can also use similar methods to elucidate areas that play an important role in the natural habitats of other animals and to understand the links between areas. That's with their brain activity. By doing so, this study can help us understand how to operate the animal's brain in practice.

Scientists participating in this study include Alexei L. Vyssotski; Giacomo Dell'Omo; Gaia Dell'Ariccia comes from the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Andrei N. Abramchuk, Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology, Zelenograd, Russia; Andrei N. Serkov, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia; Alexander V. Latanov, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia; Alberto Loizzo, Superiore di Sanita Nursing Academy, Rome, Italy; David P. Wolfer, university, Zurich, Switzerland, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; and Hans-Peter Lipp, Zurich University, City of Zurich, Switzerland.