To understand how brains pays attention, scientists studied 15 barn owls as lights flashed on a monitor. Owls' eyes are fixed in sockets so they turn their heads to look, tipping off scientists. Each flash triggered a group of brain cells called IMC neurons in an evolutionarily ancient brain region.

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To understand how brains pays attention, scientists studied 15 barn owls as lights flashed on a monitor. Owls' eyes are fixed in sockets so they turn their heads to look, tipping off scientists. Each flash triggered a group of brain cells called IMC neurons in an evolutionarily ancient brain region.