Mita Philosophical Society Lecture
Event Date
Event Venue
"The Brain of a Bird Attracted to Song and Transmitting Culture"
2023/01/24
Item 1 | Item 2 |
|---|---|
Date & Time | Thursday, February 2, 2023, 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. |
Venue | Conference Room AB, Research Building, Keio University Mita Campus |
Eligibility | Open to everyone. |
Lecturer | Mr. Masashi Tanaka (Full-time Lecturer, Graduate School of Letters, Waseda University) |
Organizers | Psychology Program / Mita Philosophical Society |
Lecture Summary:
Humans have developed advanced skills such as language and art by accepting various cultures within society and passing them on to future generations. Animals with the ability for cultural transmission are rare, with reports limited to a few species even among primates, such as chimpanzees. Curiously, however, some bird species are known to transmit complex behaviors similar to human culture. In particular, passerine birds (songbirds) are known for singing complex songs and possess the ability to accurately imitate them through long practice after memorizing the songs they heard in their youth. Songbirds are also extremely social animals; they are raised by adults in their youth, form close social bonds with specific partners during the breeding season, and engage in diverse vocal communication within their flocks. Furthermore, it has become clear that songbirds have a preference not only for the songs used in courtship but also for musical stimuli. In this lecture, I will introduce the latest findings on song transmission by songbirds and its neural mechanisms, and I hope to discuss how the study of songbirds can contribute to our understanding of human culture and aesthetic sense.