"Unveiling the Intricacies of Crow's Tool-Using Brain"
Researchers used radioactive tracers and PET scans to study the brains of American crows while they used tools to obtain food. The study found that the motor learning and tactile control centers were active in proficient crows, while sensory and higher-order processing centers were active in less proficient crows. Female crows were particularly skilled at tool usage, suggesting a potential link between their caregiving role and tool use. The study also suggests that other crow species have the neural flexibility to learn tool usage. The non-invasive method used in the study, FDG-PET, allows researchers to examine brain activity without surgery or implants.