gusgus - Scientists discover mice can sing in unison

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Scientists discover mice can sing in unison

As scientists and Cinderelli have long known, mice can sing. Male mice specifically make little vocal noises referred to as song for the purpose of attracting female mice. (Musical talent is a cross-species turn-on, guys.)

Recently, Scientists at Tulane University have discovered that not only can mice sing, they can match their voices as well, blending into a choir of little mice squeaks. The finding indicates a basic capacity for vocal learning previously thought to be only available to humans, certain other mammals, bats, and some species of birds.

According to the Telegraph, when scientists took away hearing or damage cells in the motor cortex of a mouse’s brain, it affected the animal’s ability to match vocal pitches.

“We are claiming that mice have limited versions of the brain and behavior traits for vocal learning that are found in humans for learning speech and in birds for learning song,” Dr. Erich Jarvis, who supervised the study, told The Telegraph.

Here, Gus and Jaques sing about Cinderelli. Below is a recording of mice singing from the Telegraph.

  1. October 18, 2012 at 4:47 pm, Boy Scouts of America Go Public With 'Perversion Files' said:

    [...] Scientists use science to discover that mice can sing in unison. Cue live-action [...]

    Reply

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