But just how woodpeckers endure millions of head-banging episodes in their lifetime without suffering from brain damage isn't understood. New research has discovered that the brains of woodpeckers do indeed contain a buildup of a protein found in people with brain damage and some neurodegenerative diseases. The protein tau is essential to the function of neurons. Despite the findings of tau accumulation, the birds don't exhibit any behaviours suggestive of brain damage. And this is what the researchers hope to further investigate, with the aim of better understanding the role it plays in brain damage in humans.

Source: CBC News February 03, 2018 09:00 UTC