Humpback whales have spindle neurons in their brain. So what's the significance of that fact? Well, for one, it could mean that apart from us humans and them great apes, they are actually also just as capable of cognition.

Those brain cells found in the whales are seen only in humans, the great apes, and other cetaceans like Flipper and the gang. Although there's still much question as to what exactly those neurons do, it is thought that it could be involved in learning, remembering and recognizing the world around oneself.

What this finding further provides is a possible explanation to some typical whale behaviors, such as intricate communication skills, alliance-formation, cooperation, cultural transmission and even tool usage.

See, now wasn't it then smart of Dory that she could speak whale?

The research was done by Patrick Hof and Estel Van der Gucht of the Department of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. It is reported in The Anatomical Record.