What does the proportion of the woodpecker brain relative to its skull size help facilitate in terms of protection?
Answer
It allows more space for protective, shock-absorbing tissues
One critical component of the woodpecker's defense mechanism against self-injury during drumming is the structural relationship between the brain and the skull. The brain itself is relatively small when compared proportionally to the overall volume of the skull cavity. This configuration is an advantage because it leaves substantial internal space within the cranium, which is then occupied by the spongy, thick bone layers dedicated to absorbing the immense kinetic energy generated by the hammering action.
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