Scientists Translate Sleeping Birds' Silent Songs Into Sound—And They May Have Recorded A Nightmare

[maximus otter]

While birds are fast asleep, their brains remain active, firing off electrical signals that can mimic those that occur while they’re awake and singing. This silent brain activity can even make the vocal muscles in their chests and throats move—similar to the way a sleeping dog’s paws might twitch.

Now, for the first time, researchers have translated birds’ sleeping muscle activity into sound. The findings, published this month in the journal Chaos, offer new insights into the avian brain, as well as clues to what birds might dream about as they snooze.

Researchers set up an experiment involving two great kiskadees —small, brightly colored flycatchers that live in South America, Central America and parts of Mexico and Texas.

After capturing two wild birds, the scientists used surgically implanted electrodes to record the creatures’ muscle activity while they were sleeping and awake. In total, they recorded about 100 instances of muscle activity associated with singing.

The team created a model to predict which types of muscle activity produced which sounds. Then, they used the model to bring the birds’ silent, sleeping songs to life.

One of the synthetic songs they produced matched the noises kiskadees make when fighting over territory. When they went back and looked at video footage of the sleeping bird from that moment, they noticed its head feathers were standing on end—just like they would if the bird had been awake and sparring with a competitor.

It’s possible the bird was having a bad dream.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...they-may-have-recorded-a-nightmare-180984205/

maximus otter

 

[Min Bannister]

It’s possible the bird was having a bad dream.

After capturing two wild birds, the scientists used surgically implanted electrodes

Well that would do it I suppose.

 

[catseye]

Well that would do it I suppose.

I was going to say - why couldn't they have used captive bred birds? Those were wild birds! How was capturing them and implanting them ever going to reflect the dreams of birds in general?

 

[SimonBurchell]

I was going to say - why couldn't they have used captive bred birds? Those were wild birds! How was capturing them and implanting them ever going to reflect the dreams of birds in general?

Nightmares of abduction and surgical implants... where have I heard that before?

 

[michael59]

While birds are fast asleep, their brains remain active, firing off electrical signals that can mimic those that occur while they’re awake and singing. This silent brain activity can even make the vocal muscles in their chests and throats move—similar to the way a sleeping dog’s paws might twitch.

Now, for the first time, researchers have translated birds’ sleeping muscle activity into sound. The findings, published this month in the journal Chaos, offer new insights into the avian brain, as well as clues to what birds might dream about as they snooze.

Researchers set up an experiment involving two great kiskadees —small, brightly colored flycatchers that live in South America, Central America and parts of Mexico and Texas.

After capturing two wild birds, the scientists used surgically implanted electrodes to record the creatures’ muscle activity while they were sleeping and awake. In total, they recorded about 100 instances of muscle activity associated with singing.

The team created a model to predict which types of muscle activity produced which sounds. Then, they used the model to bring the birds’ silent, sleeping songs to life.

One of the synthetic songs they produced matched the noises kiskadees make when fighting over territory. When they went back and looked at video footage of the sleeping bird from that moment, they noticed its head feathers were standing on end—just like they would if the bird had been awake and sparring with a competitor.

It’s possible the bird was having a bad dream.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...they-may-have-recorded-a-nightmare-180984205/

maximus otter

It's true and I am guessing that it's Canada's turn because they are driving me crazy!

While birds are fast asleep, their brains remain active, firing off electrical signals that can mimic those that occur while they’re awake and singing. This silent brain activity can even make the vocal muscles in their chests and throats move—similar to the way a sleeping dog’s paws might twitch.

Now, for the first time, researchers have translated birds’ sleeping muscle activity into sound. The findings, published this month in the journal Chaos, offer new insights into the avian brain, as well as clues to what birds might dream about as they snooze.

Researchers set up an experiment involving two great kiskadees —small, brightly colored flycatchers that live in South America, Central America and parts of Mexico and Texas.

After capturing two wild birds, the scientists used surgically implanted electrodes to record the creatures’ muscle activity while they were sleeping and awake. In total, they recorded about 100 instances of muscle activity associated with singing.

The team created a model to predict which types of muscle activity produced which sounds. Then, they used the model to bring the birds’ silent, sleeping songs to life.

One of the synthetic songs they produced matched the noises kiskadees make when fighting over territory. When they went back and looked at video footage of the sleeping bird from that moment, they noticed its head feathers were standing on end—just like they would if the bird had been awake and sparring with a competitor.

It’s possible the bird was having a bad dream.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...they-may-have-recorded-a-nightmare-180984205/

maximus otter

Okay it is possible that I am not seeing what you wrote, maximus otter