Rats Do It, Chicks Do it, Even Chimps and Fish Do It

That's right--they all share something in common:

Previous scientific research suggests that humans, rats, chicks, chimps and even fish use geometry to reorient themselves in space. They mentally visualize the geometry of their surroundings — corners and walls — to figure out where they are.

And why does that matter, dear reader? Read on:

When it comes to navigation skills, some of us are homing pigeons. Others are mice in a maze.

The sharp navigators are those who can figure out which way they need to go in an unfamiliar setting to get to their destination. No GPS needed to find their way around town. No always stopping for directions. Some folks, meanwhile, are hopelessly disoriented — the type that gets lost in a paper bag.

A new study suggests that skillful navigation just may be in your genes.

Read the whole thing.

If so, then this goes beyond just differences in the species.

Personally, my guess is that this is a simple example of evolution: rats, chicks, chimps and fish are just compensating for their inability to ask for directions at the gas station.

Technorati Tag: Williams Syndrome.