Experiments with pigeons: researchers reveal secrets of thinking!

Experiments with pigeons: researchers reveal secrets of thinking!

Research at the Ruhr University Bochum is currently the focus of the debate about animal testing. Critics have strongly condemned the experiments in biopsychology. These experiments are part of basic research and aim to understand the neural mechanisms of thought processes, especially with regard to the development of human brain diseases. In order to understand these processes, it is necessary to first identify the basic mechanisms of thinking.

All animal experiments carried out at the Ruhr University must meet the strict requirements of the German Animal Welfare Act and the EU Directive 2010/63/EU. As part of a harm-benefit analysis, the suffering of the animals, the scientific benefits and the possibility of alternatives are carefully weighed. Where possible, cell and computer models as well as imaging techniques are used. This is in line with the 3R principle: Replace, Reduce, Refine [news.rub.de reports that...].

Dealing with pigeons

Particularly interesting is the method used by the head of biopsychology, Prof. Dr. Onur Güntürkün, was developed. This technique involves training pigeons in MRI to solve intelligence tasks. This approach allows the number of experimental pigeons used to be significantly reduced because the animals can take part in different experiments. In the experiments, electrodes are implanted into the pigeons' brains in order to derive electrical signals from nerve cells.

The pigeons were asked to choose between different symbols. Some of these symbols resulted in a reward. Research has shown that different symbols are treated differently in visual processing but identical in cognitive processing. In the cognitive regions of the pigeon brain, a common processing system was established that signaled the meaning of the symbols.

Significance of the findings

In addition, further experiments show how small groups of nerve cells learn categories. These insights are crucial for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of thinking. The lack of solid knowledge in this area could mean that disorders of such processes cannot be treated therapeutically.

In the broader perspective, animal testing is essential in biomedical research. They enable the understanding of complex biological processes in living organisms. Many scientific findings are based on results from animal experiments, which are crucial for biomedical progress in Germany [tierexperimente-veresten.de reports that...]. Scientists recognize the responsibility for the welfare of laboratory animals and agree to limit animal testing to a necessary minimum.

The ethical principle of the 3Rs, which responsibly optimizes resources for animal experiments, is consistently applied in the planning and implementation of animal experiments. This is a prerequisite for approval by the responsible authorities [mhh.de reports that...].