It always amazes me how small birds change direction mid-flight and seem to do it frequently, being able to make tons of movements in small urban areas with lots of obstacles.
Same thing with squirrels – they move so fast and seem to be able to make a hundred movements in the time a human could be able to make ten!
So what’s going on here? Do some animals just THINK faster than humans, and not only move faster than them?
In: Biology
Birds and squirrels do indeed have faster reaction times than humans, but it’s not because they think faster. Their nervous systems are adapted for quick responses, essential for survival in their environments. Birds, for instance, have a higher metabolic rate and a more efficient neural network, allowing for rapid processing of visual information. This is crucial for navigating complex environments at high speeds.
Squirrels, on the other hand, have specialized proprioceptors (sensors that detect body position) and a highly developed cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for motor control. This allows them to make split-second adjustments while moving at high speeds. It’s less about ‘thinking’ and more about evolved reflexes and specialized neural pathways.
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