Scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have found key structural differences in the brains of parrots that may explain the birds' unparalleled ability to imitate sounds and human speech. These brain structures had gone unrecognised in studies published over the last 34 years, researchers said. By examining gene expression patterns, the new study found that parrot brains are structured differently than the brains of songbirds and hummingbirds, which also exhibit vocal learning. In addition to having defined centres in the brain that control vocal learning called 'cores,' parrots have what the scientists call 'shells,' or outer rings, which are also involved in vocal learning. The shells are relatively bigger in species of parrots that are well known for their ability to imitate human speech, the researchers found.