Biology

Experimental evidence for core-Merge in the vocal communication system of a wild passerine

T. N. Suzuki and Y. K. Matsumoto

This fascinating study by Toshitaka N. Suzuki and Yui K. Matsumoto explores whether Japanese tits can comprehend the combination of two calls as a single unit, revealing their cognitive capabilities in antipredator behavior. Discover how these remarkable birds responded differently to calls from one versus two speakers, shedding light on their understanding of communication in the animal kingdom.

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Abstract

This study investigates whether Japanese tits exhibit core-Merge, a cognitive capacity allowing the combination of two words into a sequence understood as a single unit. The researchers played alert and recruitment calls, either from a single speaker or two separate speakers. Results showed that tits responded to the calls from a single speaker, exhibiting antipredator behavior, but not to calls from separate speakers, demonstrating recognition of the two-call sequence as a single unit and supporting the existence of core-Merge in animals.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Sep 24, 2022

Authors

Toshitaka N. Suzuki, Yui K. Matsumoto

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