Becoming a birdwatching expert transcends mere hobby; it’s a transformative activity that can significantly enhance brain structure and function. Recent studies reveal that engaging in birdwatching may promote cognitive improvements, even as we age.
In a study conducted in Canada with 58 participants, brain imaging showed that expert birdwatchers exhibited increased tissue density in regions linked to attention and perception compared to novices. This heightened density suggests enhanced communication between neurons, which correlated with superior bird identification skills.
These groundbreaking findings were published on Monday in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Lead author Eric Wing, while a postdoctoral fellow at the Rotman Institute of Baycrest Academy of Research and Education in Toronto, states, “Our brains are incredibly malleable.”
Learning a new skill triggers neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize itself. While previous research has focused on professionals like athletes and musicians, Wing’s team aimed to study birdwatchers due to the unique cognitive challenges birdwatching presents.
“Birdwatching combines fine discrimination, visual searching, environmental attention, movement sensitivity, and intricate pattern detection,” Wing explained. “It also requires recalling what we’ve seen and comparing it to internal cognitive templates.” He is now a researcher at York University in Toronto.
MRI Scans Reveal Brain Differences
The study included 29 expert birdwatchers aged 24 to 75, recruited from organizations like the Toronto Ornithological Club and Ontario Field Ornithologists. Novices ranged from 22 to 79 and were from similar outdoor or hiking clubs.
While some participants had decades of birdwatching experience, expertise was assessed through screening tests rather than time spent birding.
During a bird matching task, experts demonstrated superior accuracy in identifying both local and exotic bird species compared to novices.
Surprisingly, Wing noted distinct neurological activity among the expert birdwatchers.
The researchers employed two types of MRI scans—diffusion and functional—to assess the participants’ brains.
Diffusion MRI revealed greater density in brain areas involved in working memory, spatial awareness, and object recognition among experts.
Functional MRI data highlighted active regions in expert brains during bird-matching tasks, especially when identifying unfamiliar species.
“These findings offer insights into the significance of these brain regions in developing expertise,” Wing noted. “Such skills are crucial for recognizing new and unidentified bird species.”
Cognitive Benefits for Older Birdwatchers
Experts showed structural brain differences irrespective of age. Though this study doesn’t definitively prove birdwatching prevents cognitive decline, it does suggest potential benefits for brain health in older adults, according to Molly Mather, a clinical psychologist from the Meshulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
“As populations age in the U.S. and globally, we lack treatments to halt or reverse aging and Alzheimer’s-related changes,” Mather, who wasn’t involved in the study, emphasized. “Establishing a scientific basis for recommendations is invaluable.”
Mather noted a chicken-and-egg dilemma in this study: Do brain differences stem from birdwatching, or do individuals with certain neural traits become adept birdwatchers?
Moreover, participants were drawn from active outdoor groups, potentially reflecting healthier lifestyles.
Benefits of Nature Engagement
Benjamin Katz, an associate professor at Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, pointed out that other factors in birding could enhance brain health. Immersion in nature boosts alertness, walking mitigates cognitive decline risk, and social interactions might expedite processing speed.
“Birdwatching isn’t a one-dimensional activity,” Katz, also not part of the study, remarked. “Numerous cognitive factors are involved.”
Katz urged that future research should track novice birdwatchers over time to observe potential brain changes as they gain expertise.
“We lack clarity on baseline differences,” he pointed out. “Long-term data is essential for strong conclusions regarding the impacts of birding.”
The study authors suggested their methodology could explore brain reorganization related to other complex skills.
“Our passions and experiences, especially those cultivated over countless hours or years, leave a lasting imprint on our brains,” Wing concluded. “Identifying ways to leverage this accumulated knowledge can bolster cognitive function.”
Source: www.nbcnews.com
