Cerebellum size is related to fear memory and domestication of chickens

Abstract

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) were selected for divergent levels of fear of humans during eight generations, causing the selection lines to differ in fear levels as well as in the proportional brain and cerebellum masses. Birds from the two lines were then crossed to obtain an F3 intercross in order to study the correlations between brain mass and fear learning. We exposed 105 F3-animals individually to a fear habituation and memory test at 8 days of age, where the reactions to repeated light flashes were assessed on 2 consecutive days. After culling, the absolute and relative sizes of each of four brain regions were measured. Stepwise regression was used to analyse the effects of the size of each brain region on habituation and memory. There were no effects of any brain region on the habituation on day one. However, birds with a larger absolute size of cerebellum had significantly reduced reactions to the fearful stimuli on day two, indicating a better memory of the stimuli. No other regions had significant effects. We conclude that increased cerebellum size may have been important in facilitating chicken domestication, allowing them to adapt to a life with humans.