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Mice learn songs in similar way to humans and birds
Mice learn songs in similar way to humans and birds
US researchers say that mice may have the ability to learn songs based on the sounds they hear. They found that when male mice were housed together they learned to match the pitch of their songs to each other. Mice also share some behavioural and brain mechanisms involved in vocal learning with songbirds and humans, say the researchers. But some scientists are sceptical, saying the evidence does not support the claim. (требование)Previous research in this field has shown that male mice can sing complex songs when exposed to females and these play an important part incourtship. (ухаживание)These murine (мышиный) serenades are ultrasonic.(сверхзвуковой)At between 50 and 100KHz, they are far above the hearing range of humans. When processed to make them audible(Слышный) to humans, they sound like a series of plaintive whistles.(свист) Rare skill
It has long been assumed(принимать) that mice were incapable of modifying(видоизменять) the sequence(последовательность) or the pitch of these sounds. This ability, called vocal learning, is rare in the natural world. It isrestricted(ограничивать) to some birds such as parrots and song birds along with whales, dolphins, sea lions, bats and elephants. But in these experiments, researchers from Duke University in North Carolina say they found that mice have both the brain circuits(окружность) and the behavioural attributes consistent with vocal learning. Dr Erich Jarvis, who oversaw the study, told BBC News that it had changed his understanding of the way mice make sound. "In mice we find that the pathways that are at least modulating these vocalisations are in the forebrain, in places where you actually find them in humans," he said. He says the study does not have clear evidence that mice have the very same vocal abilities as birds and humans. He believes there is a spectrum where different species have vocal skills to different degrees. "We think mice are intermediate in this ability between a chicken and a song bird or even a non human primate and a human," he said. Living inharmony (гармония, согласие) When male mice with different vocal pitches were housed together, the team found that the pitch of their songs gradually converged(сходиться) over a period of eight weeks. Dr Jarvis argues that this is an important development: "When we put a female in the cage with two males, we then found that one male would change his pitch to match the other. It was usually the smaller animal changing the pitch to match the larger animal," he said. But others are less certain. Dr Kurt Hammerschmidt, an expert in vocal communication at the German Primate Centre in Goettingen, cast doubt on the study's claim about the vocal behaviour of male mice. "The pitch convergence story is less convincing," he says. But Erich Jarvisrefutes (опровергать)his, saying the scepticism is unfounded. "His complaint was that we don't have enough animals, but we found this in 12 mouse pairs and in every single pair... at least in our eyes it's quite reliable and statistically significant," he said
1. Do you know that mice are very clever animals? 2. It is unusual that mice can learn songs, isn’t it? 3. Do you want to see such mice? 4. Do mice’s songs play an important part in courtship? 5. Is it an interesting fact?
As for me, it is cool. I always know that all animals have own unusual abilities. But that mice can emit sounds, I never heard about it. It is really informative information. I sometimes wonder that I haven’t known many things yet!!!
I always know that mice (and including hamsters) areone of the clever animals in the world. I have a hamster (you have heard much about Dusia) and I know that rodents can be very quick-witted. They have a lot of enemies in nature. So their mind is necessary for survival. I'm not wander that it possible that they can sing but I will be in panic if someday Dusia says to me, "Hi, Irina" or " Where is my food?"
I like this article.I had never heard about singing mice.I am afraid of them.They are little and not nice.But I know there are nice mice.They are very nice and not nasty...I like articles about animals.They are interesting and funny...
It's so interesting to find out about unusual skills of animals. I always believe mice and rats are very clever creatures. I have a rat and I know that he is very intelligent. But I can't imagine singing mice)) Of course, I noticed that my rat likes to sleep, when I listen to music, but I didn't attach any importance to this. After this article I will observe my rat better And my knowledge about mice supplemented by an unusual fact)))
I've never heard that mice can sing. Of corse I couldn't imagine that they can learn songs. I know that they have a good memory and can run through mazes, but this information is very unusual and interesting. Well, it an important fact. But I think It's useless, I hope that scientists will discover something else about mind of mise soon.
It is a fact that mice are clever animals. No wonder, scientists are conducting experiments on this animals. To tell the truth, I did not know about it. I was surprised
I agree that mice are very clever. By the way, I haven't heard that mice can learn songs as humans and birds. So thank you for this cognitive information! Some days ago I heard that people,who work in agencies which are against of drugs, decided to "hire" mice for searching drugs. These people say that mice feel smell better than dogs. I was really surprised when I heard it. Have you heard about this?
Wow, mice can dance too!!!I am shocked . They are wonderful creatures!!! Do you know about these animals more? Can you tell about other animals? I think it is a good idea if you show us your article about it. I will wait for it!!!
This is a very interesting article) I think that mice are very clever animals. There are a lot of examples and evidences of it. As for the fact that mice can understand and learn songs- I personally saw my friend's mouse which was danced to a favorite song) it loved only that song))
And my knowledge about mice supplemented by an unusual fact)))
