Scientists from the University of Antwerp have come up with a new hypothesis to explain why woodpeckers don't get concussions while constantly tapping trees for food.. In their opinion, this is not due to additional shock-absorbing functions.. Birds' brains are probably just so tiny they can't be damaged, reports Science Alert..

Anyone who has ever heard the tapping of a woodpecker can appreciate the physics involved in this process.. These birds " For comparison, only 90-100 g is enough for a person to get a concussion..

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In past research, scientists have pointed to possible body modifications that could help reduce the impact on the woodpecker's brain tissue.. For example, spongy shock-absorbing bones and neck muscles. These elements can soften the blows, but they can also weaken the force with which the woodpecker knocks on the tree..

In a new study, scientists observed six woodpeckers, which represented the species Dryocopus martius, Dryocopus pileatus and Dendrocopos major.. They measured the slowness of birds' eyes when their beak touched a tree..

It turned out that the entire head of the woodpecker moves as a whole, with a slight difference in peak deceleration between the eye and the beak.. "

The models the scientists built based on observations of woodpecker videos further confirmed that there was no significant cushioning between the tip of the beak and the contents of the skull.. In this case, specialized bone structures do not so much deform and absorb energy from each impact, but resist destruction..

Some studies have shown that woodpeckers can suffer from constant head bumps.. But modeling done by Van Wassenberg's team suggests that head-shaking doesn't lead to anything serious..

Scientists' data may explain why woodpeckers never exceed half a meter. A larger "