Artificial grammar learning by humans and animals: behavioral process and brain functioning

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We tested whether birds (Bengalese finches) are able to demonstrate the capacity to extract a simple rule from examples at a behavioral and a neural level. In the behavioral experiment, birds were tested by an operant go-nogo procedure to discriminate between two groups of sounds that differed on the pattern of sound intensity. Of eight birds tested only one learned the discrimination. This bird demonstrated the generalization of the learned rule through probe tests. In the neural experiment, single-unit auditory responses were recorded in the higher auditory area NCM in anesthetized birds. An odd-ball task showed that about 30% of neurons showed habituation-dishabituation property. Among these, 7% showed generalized response property suggesting the extraction of the rule.