NMSU researchers study older parakeets to find out whether learning declines with age

The sound of parakeets fills a room at the Animal Care Center at NMSU, where biology professor Dr. Timothy Wright and other colleagues have been studying them to determine why it’s harder for us humans to learn new languages as we get older. He co-authored a paper published in June called “Evidence for maintenance of Key Components of Vocal Learning in Ageing Budgerigars Despite Diminished Affiliative Social Interaction.” Dr. Wright explained that lengthy title and the study.