Human Spark » birds http://www.pbs.org/wnet/humanspark January 6, 13, and 20, 2010 at 8pm (check local listings) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:57:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 In the News: European Magpie: No Bird Brain http://www.pbs.org/wnet/humanspark/topics/neuroscience/in-the-news-european-magpie-no-bird-brain/96/ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/humanspark/topics/neuroscience/in-the-news-european-magpie-no-bird-brain/96/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:30:31 +0000 tanner vea http://www.pbs.org/wnet/humanspark/?p=96

When you look in the mirror, you instantly recognize the person gazing back at you as yourself.

Scientists use this reflection recognition as a test of self-awareness. The idea is that our ability to recognize ourselves underlies other higher cognitive functions.

Until recently only great apes and some other big-brained mammals such as dolphins and elephants were thought capable of passing the “mirror test.” Enter the European magpie.

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