Abstract
The HVc (hyperstriatum ventrale, pars caudale) is a forebrain nucleus in the motor pathway for the control of song. Neurons in the HVc also exhibit auditory responses. A subset of these auditory neurons in the white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) have been shown to be highly selective for the individual bird's own (autogenous) song. By using multiunit recording techniques to sample from a large population, we demonstrate that the entire population of auditory neurons in the HVc is selective for autogenous song. The selectivity of these neurons must reflect the song-learning process, for the acoustic parameters of a sparrow's song are acquired by learning. By testing with laboratory-reared birds, we show that HVc auditory neurons prefer autogenous song over the tutor model to which the birds were exposed early in life. Thus, these neurons must be specified at or after the time song crystallizes. Since song is learned by reference to auditory feedback, HVc auditory neurons may guide the development of the motor program for song. The maintenance of a precise auditory representation of autogenous song into adulthood can contribute to the ability to distinguish the fine differences among conspecific songs.
Keywords: auditory neurophysiology, learning and memory, birdsong, sensorimotor integration, auditory feedback
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Katz L. C., Gurney M. E. Auditory responses in the zebra finch's motor system for song. Brain Res. 1981 Sep 21;221(1):192–197. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(81)91073-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kelley D. B., Nottebohm F. Projections of a telencephalic auditory nucleus-field L-in the canary. J Comp Neurol. 1979 Feb 1;183(3):455–469. doi: 10.1002/cne.901830302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Konishi M. The role of auditory feedback in the control of vocalization in the white-crowned sparrow. Z Tierpsychol. 1965 Dec;22(7):770–783. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Margoliash D. Acoustic parameters underlying the responses of song-specific neurons in the white-crowned sparrow. J Neurosci. 1983 May;3(5):1039–1057. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.03-05-01039.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McCasland J. S., Konishi M. Interaction between auditory and motor activities in an avian song control nucleus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Dec;78(12):7815–7819. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.12.7815. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nottebohm F., Stokes T. M., Leonard C. M. Central control of song in the canary, Serinus canarius. J Comp Neurol. 1976 Feb 15;165(4):457–486. doi: 10.1002/cne.901650405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Paton J. A., Nottebohm F. N. Neurons generated in the adult brain are recruited into functional circuits. Science. 1984 Sep 7;225(4666):1046–1048. doi: 10.1126/science.6474166. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]