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From The Times
February 17, 2003

Birds may teach us how to talk
BIRD sounds are providing insights into human voices and language that could help stroke patients to recover normal speech.

Research led by Erich Jarvis, of Duke University in North Carolina, has identified and mapped seven parts of the brain responsible for learning and imitating sounds in parrots, hummingbirds and finches. As human beings have similar structures, which are used in speech and language, the work paves the way for new strategies to help people who have lost the ability to speak because of damage to those critical areas of the brain.

Dr Jarvis’s work will deepen understanding of their human equivalents, he said. “Although it might seem far-fetched, I would not be surprised if these ancient receptors could someday help us identify the entire systems of brain regions for vocal learning and language.”

Eventually, it might be possible to teach stroke victims who have damage to one critical speech area to use another instead.

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