In species that can "sing" (repeat back sounds they hear and create new ones vocally), there tend to be direct connections between the muscle-controlling parts of the brain and the voice box muscles. This includes humans, songbirds, zebras, and finches. In contrast, species like chimpanzees and chickens do not have these direct connections, which seems to prevent them from learning and producing new vocalizations. While most animals can create their innate vocalizations (eg. the squawking of seagulls, the crying of a human baby), animals like humans and songbirds can learn different sounds and reproduce them (in some capacity). Incidentally, these connections between the brain and vocal muscles are strengthened through practice, so the notion of only being able to sing if you're born a "natural singer" is totally false 😉 Source: "How Music Can Make You Better", Indre Viskontas #songbird #human #songbirds #humans #zebra #zebras #finch #finches #singing #sing #practice #practiceiseverything #neuroscience #neuroscientist #indreviskontas #musicality #musician #direct #brain #muscles #vocalcords #control #voicebox #chimpanzee #chimpanzees #chicken #chickens #indirect #seagull #funfact https://www.instagram.com/p/COMz11uhXQm/?igshid=qoqvbeyg4yct
