Department of Biopsychology

Many cognitive neuroscientists believe that both a large brain and an isocortex are crucial for complex cognition. Yet corvids and parrots possess non-cortical brains of just 1–25 g, and these birds exhibit cognitive abilities comparable with chimpanzees, which have brains of about 400 g.

Invasive neuronal tract tracing is prohibited in very large or endangered animals, particularly marine mammals like dolphins. Scientists from Germany and Italy propose diffusion-weighted imaging as a feasible alternative, even in brains fixed in formalin for extended periods.