Parrots to help study evolution of human language

London, November 10 : A Scottish research team is gearing up to study parrots, ravens, and pigeons to discover how human language evolved.

Researchers at St Andrews University have revealed that their plan is to compare "highly intelligent" parrots and ravens with "cognitively normal" pigeons, which they believe may shed light on how human intelligence and language involved.

The team have secured a funding of 3.25 million pounds from the new European Research Council for their five-year study.

Project leaders Professor Kevin Laland and Dr Tecumseh Fitch say that they will conduct a series of experiments on chimpanzees, birds, and other animals to determine whether such creatures too can have human skills like speech, art and music.

The researchers believe that their study may enable them to draw a link between parts of the human brain used for language and those used for art.

"The project is expected to offer a major step forward in our understanding of human evolution, adaptation and culture and to stimulate interdisciplinary exchange," the Scotsman quoted Prof. Laland as saying.

ANI