This multidisciplinary research, in collaboration with Dr. John Marzluff from the UW Department of Environmental and Forest Sciences found brain activation patterns in wild American crows that were associated with a threatening human faces differentially from friendly faces. The project used FDG administered to awake crows. This research was featured in media sources including BBC, NPR, Science and National Geographic and has gained international recognition. Marcus Raichle, editor for PNAS, said, “This is the most innovative research I have seen in more than a decade.”
Related Publications
- Marzluff, JM, Miyaoka R, Minoshima S, Cross DJ. Brain imaging reveals neuronal circuitry underlying the crow's perception of human faces. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2012. 109(39): p. 15912-7.
- Cross, DJ, Marzluff, JM, Palmquist, I, Minoshima, S, Shimizu, T, Miyaoka, R. Distinct neural circuits underlie assessment of a diversity of natural dangers by American crows. Proceedings Biological sciences / The Royal Society. Dec 31 2013;280(1765):20131046.
- Swift KN, Marzluff JM, Templeton CN, Shimizu T, Cross DJ. Brain activity underlying American crow processing of encounters with dead conspecifics. Behav Brain Res. 2020 May 15;385:112546. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112546. Feb 6. PubMed PMID: 32035868.