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Saturday 31 May 2014

Zebra Finches SHOW SENSITIVITY TO HUMAN SPEECH

A study by scientists has found that Song Birds can be trained to understand non-language aspects of Human Speech.Zebra Finches are sensitive   to Prosodic variations-changes in pitch,volume,duration of spoken syllables.Prosodic features may have pre-dated evolution of structure of language .In a study loudspeakers played patterns of human speech and when responded the birds pecked a specific key or no action-correct reponse access to food,wrong one led to 15 seconds of darkness. 2 differrent sequences of 4 naturally spoken syllables played male and female speakers and also pitch was altered ,volume,stress of duration of first and last syllable.The finches seemed to learn sequences of new syllables but not changing patterns-Proceedings of Royal Society B Journal-Western Morning News - page 14-29/05/2014

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