Song learning: the interface between behaviour and neuroethology

1990 ◽  
Vol 329 (1253) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Motor Development ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
The Other ◽  
Vocal Development ◽  
Behavioural Development ◽  
The Comparative Study ◽  
High Degree

The high degree of developmental plasticity displayed by the songs of oscine birds makes them appropriate subjects for research on the ethology and neurobiology of vocal learning. Strong individual differences and learned local dialects are common. The readiness to acquire new songs appears to persist throughout life in some species and is restricted to relatively short sensitive periods in others. Learning can occur with remarkably few exposures to song. Mimicry of other species occurs but, given a choice, there is a tendency to favour conspecific songs. Evidence is presented for two kinds of vocal learning, one ‘memory-based’, the other ‘action-based.’ Subsong and ‘plastic song’ phases of motor development appear to be obligatory steps in the ontogeny of learned songs. A case is made that acquisition and production should be viewed as distinct phenomena with different physiological correlates. Research on behavioural development is closely associated with studies of the physiology of development. The two are mutually synergistic, and the synergism is well displayed in research on song learning in birds. This review of some of the characteristics of avian vocal learning as derived from behavioural studies, indicates lacunae in our knowledge about the ethology of song learning, and suggests how the comparative study of vocal development can pave the way for new insights into the underlying neurobiology.

scholarly journals Song preferences predict the quality of vocal learning in zebra finches

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. Rodriguez-Saltos ◽  
Aditya Bhise ◽  
Prasanna Karur ◽  
Ramsha Nabihah Khan ◽  
Sumin Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Schedule ◽  
Social Process ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Social Reward ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Vocal Development ◽  
Song Preferences

In songbirds, learning to sing is a highly social process that likely involves social reward. Here, we hypothesized that the degree to which a juvenile songbird learns a song depends on the degree to which it finds that song rewarding to hear during vocal development. We tested this hypothesis by measuring song preferences in young birds during song learning and then analyzing their adult songs. Song preferences were measured in an operant key-pressing assay. Juvenile male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) had access to two keys, each of which was associated with a higher likelihood of playing the song of their father or that of another familiar adult ("neighbor"). To minimize the effects of exposure on learning, we implemented a reinforcement schedule that allowed us to detect preferences while balancing exposure to each song. On average, the juveniles significantly preferred the father's song early during song learning, before they were themselves singing. At around post-hatch day 60, their preference shifted to the neighbor's song. At the end of the song learning period, we recorded the juveniles' songs and compared them to the father's and the neighbor's song. All of the birds copied father's song. The accuracy with which the father's song was imitated was positively correlated with the peak strength of the preference for the father's song during the sensitive period. Our results show that preference for a social stimulus, in this case a vocalization, predicted social learning during development.

Songs of the Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) and Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) are Innate

The Auk ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald E. Kroodsma
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Learning ◽  
The Other ◽  
Vocal Development ◽  
Motivational States ◽  
Song Development ◽  
Experimental Subjects ◽  
Willow Flycatcher ◽  
Empidonax Traillii ◽  
Microgeographic Variation

Abstract I studied the song development of five Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii) and four Alder Flycatchers (Empidonax alnorum) taken from nests at 7-10 days of age. Three Willow Flycatchers and four Alder Flycatchers were tutored with songs of the other species, and two Willow Flycatchers served as controls, hearing only conspecific songs. All nine subjects, both females (when administered exogenous testosterone) and males, and both experimentals and controls, produced remarkably normal songs; slight differences between songs of wild and experimental subjects could be attributed to motivational states rather than to the effects of acoustic isolation in the laboratory. I found no microgeographic variation of wild songs, no evidence of learning from a tutor tape, nor any similarity of song characters among kin. The vocal development of these suboscine flycatchers is strikingly different from that of typical oscines, where vocal learning is the rule.

scholarly journals Chronic exposure to urban noise during the vocal learning period does not lead to increased song frequencies in zebra finches

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Liu ◽  
Sue Anne Zollinger ◽  
Henrik Brumm
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Urban Noise ◽  
Sound Levels

Abstract It has often been observed that birds sing at a higher pitch in cities and other areas that are polluted with intense low-frequency noise. How this pattern arises remains unclear though. One prevailing idea is that songbirds adjust song frequencies to environmental noise profiles through developmental plasticity via vocal learning. However, the conclusions of previous studies testing this hypothesis are inconsistent. Here we report the findings from two song learning experiments with zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata), in which we exposed young birds to anthropogenic noise during their sensitive vocal learning period. Unlike previous studies that addressed this issue, we did not use constant synthetic noise but natural urban noise with its typical amplitude fluctuations that was broadcast at realistic sound levels. We found that noise-exposed males in neither experiment developed higher pitched songs compared to control males. This suggests that the natural fluctuations between higher and lower noise levels in cities may allow young birds to exploit relatively quiet moments to hear their tutors and themselves, permitting them to make accurate copies of even low-frequency song elements. Significance statement If animals are to persist in urban habitats, they often must adjust their behavior to the altered conditions. Birds in cities are often observed to sing at a higher pitch, but we are largely ignorant of how this phenomenon arises. We investigated whether low-frequency traffic noise interferes with the song learning of birds so that they develop higher pitched songs. Accordingly, we played back natural traffic noise from urban bird habitats to young birds during their learning period and then analyzed their adult songs. We found that birds that learned their songs in noise did not sing at higher frequencies compared to control males that learned their song with no noise exposure. Our results show that typical traffic noise in cities may not be sufficient to interfere with vocal learning in a way that birds develop higher-pitched songs.

The Reliability of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind Potts ◽  
Robin Law ◽  
John F. Golding ◽  
David Groome
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Recognition Test ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
The Other ◽  
Clinical Factors ◽  
Test Items ◽  
T1 And T2 ◽  
Test Materials ◽  
Induced Forgetting

Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) refers to the finding that the retrieval of an item from memory impairs the retrieval of related items. The extent to which this impairment is found in laboratory tests varies between individuals, and recent studies have reported an association between individual differences in the strength of the RIF effect and other cognitive and clinical factors. The present study investigated the reliability of these individual differences in the RIF effect. A RIF task was administered to the same individuals on two occasions (sessions T1 and T2), one week apart. For Experiments 1 and 2 the final retrieval test at each session made use of a category-cue procedure, whereas Experiment 3 employed category-plus-letter cues, and Experiment 4 used a recognition test. In Experiment 2 the same test items that were studied, practiced, and tested at T1 were also studied, practiced, and tested at T2, but for the remaining three experiments two different item sets were used at T1 and T2. A significant RIF effect was found in all four experiments. A significant correlation was found between RIF scores at T1 and T2 in Experiment 2, but for the other three experiments the correlations between RIF scores at T1 and T2 failed to reach significance. This study therefore failed to find clear evidence for reliable individual differences in RIF performance, except where the same test materials were used for both test sessions. These findings have important implications for studies involving individual differences in RIF performance.

C-Terminal amino acid sequence of chicken pepsinogen and its homology with sequences of other acid proteases

1980 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 1144-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslav Baudyš ◽  
Helena Keilová ◽  
Vladimír Kostka
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
The Other ◽  
Terminal Sequence ◽  
Terminal Part ◽  
Terminal Amino Acid ◽  
Tryptic Peptides ◽  
Terminal Amino ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Terminal Amino Acid Sequence

To determine the primary structure of the C-terminal part of the molecule of chicken pepsinogen the tryptic, chymotryptic and thermolytic digest of the protein were investigated and peptides derived from this region were sought. These peptides permitted the following 21-residue C-terminal sequence to be determined: ...Ile-Arg-Glu-Tyr-Tyr-Val-Ile-Phe-Asp-Arg-Ala-Asn-Asn-Lys-Val-Gly-Leu-Ser-Pro-Leu-Ser.COOH. A comparison of this structure with the C-terminal sequential regions of the other acid proteases shows a high degree of homology between chicken pepsinogen and these proteases (e.g., the degree of homology with respect to hog pepsinogen and calf prochymosin is about 66%). Additional tryptic peptides, derived from the N-terminal part of the zymogen molecule whose amino acid sequence has been reported before, were also obtained in this study. This sequence was extended by two residues using an overlapping peptide. An ancillary result of this study was the isolation of tryptic peptides derived from other regions of the zymogen molecule.

Informed Consent for Online Research—Is Anybody Reading?: Assessing Comprehension and Individual Differences in Readings of Digital Consent Forms

2021 ◽  
pp. 155626462110201
Author(s):  
Caitlin Geier ◽  
Robyn B. Adams ◽  
Katharine M. Mitchell ◽  
Bree E. Holtz
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Informed Consent ◽  
Research Process ◽  
The Other ◽  
Consent Form ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Consent Forms ◽  
Potential Benefits

Informed consent is an important part of the research process; however, some participants either do not read or skim the consent form. When participants do not read or comprehend informed consent, then they may not understand the potential benefits, risks, or details of the study before participating. This study used previous research to develop experimentally manipulated online consent forms utilizing various presentations of the consent form and interactive elements. Participants ( n = 576) were randomly exposed to one of six form variations. Results found that the highly interactive condition was significantly better for comprehension than any of the other conditions. The highly interactive condition also performed better for readability, though not significantly. Further research should explore the effects of interactive elements to combat habituation and to engage participants with the parts of the consent form unique to the study.

scholarly journals Traffic noise disrupts vocal development and suppresses immune function

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (20) ◽  
pp. eabe2405
Author(s):  
Henrik Brumm ◽  
Wolfgang Goymann ◽  
Sébastien Derégnaucourt ◽  
Nicole Geberzahn ◽  
Sue Anne Zollinger
Keyword(s):  
Immune Function ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Speech Development ◽  
Vocal Development ◽  
Learning Impairments ◽  
Cognitive Deficiencies

Noise pollution has been linked to learning and language deficits in children, but the causal mechanisms connecting noise to cognitive deficiencies remain unclear because experimental models are lacking. Here, we investigated the effects of noise on birdsong learning, the primary animal model for vocal learning and speech development in humans. We found that traffic noise exposure retarded vocal development and led to learning inaccuracies. In addition, noise suppressed immune function during the sensitive learning period, indicating that it is a potent stressor for birds, which is likely to compromise their cognitive functions. Our results provide important insights into the consequences of noise pollution and pave the way for future studies using birdsong as an experimental model for the investigation of noise-induced learning impairments.

scholarly journals Adding colour-realistic video images to audio playbacks increases stimulus engagement but does not enhance vocal learning in zebra finches

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith M. Varkevisser ◽  
Ralph Simon ◽  
Ezequiel Mendoza ◽  
Martin How ◽  
Idse van Hijlkema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Frame Rate ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Video Content ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Video Images

AbstractBird song and human speech are learned early in life and for both cases engagement with live social tutors generally leads to better learning outcomes than passive audio-only exposure. Real-world tutor–tutee relations are normally not uni- but multimodal and observations suggest that visual cues related to sound production might enhance vocal learning. We tested this hypothesis by pairing appropriate, colour-realistic, high frame-rate videos of a singing adult male zebra finch tutor with song playbacks and presenting these stimuli to juvenile zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Juveniles exposed to song playbacks combined with video presentation of a singing bird approached the stimulus more often and spent more time close to it than juveniles exposed to audio playback only or audio playback combined with pixelated and time-reversed videos. However, higher engagement with the realistic audio–visual stimuli was not predictive of better song learning. Thus, although multimodality increased stimulus engagement and biologically relevant video content was more salient than colour and movement equivalent videos, the higher engagement with the realistic audio–visual stimuli did not lead to enhanced vocal learning. Whether the lack of three-dimensionality of a video tutor and/or the lack of meaningful social interaction make them less suitable for facilitating song learning than audio–visual exposure to a live tutor remains to be tested.

Formation of contracts for the international sale of goods under Korean law and the CISG

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-223
Author(s):  
Byung Mun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Case Law ◽  
The Other ◽  
Basic Question ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Sale Of Goods ◽  
The Comparative Study ◽  
International Sales ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the rules on the formation of contracts under Korean law and the Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) in a comparative way and introduce the relevant proposed rules under the Amendment Draft of the Korean Civil Code (KCC). In addition, it attempts to compare and evaluate them in light of the discipline of comparative law. Design/methodology/approach In order to achieve the purposes of the study, it executes a comparative study of the rules as to the formation of contracts of the CISG, Korean law and the Amendment Draft of the KCC. The basic question for this comparative study is placed on whether a solution from one jurisdiction is more logical than the others and to what extent each jurisdiction has responded to protect the reasonable expectations of the parties in the rules as to the formation of contracts. Findings The comparative study finds that most of the rules under the CISG are quite plausible and logical and they are more or less well reflected in the proposals advanced by the KCC amendment committee. On the other hand, the other rules under the CISG which have brought criticisms in terms of their complexity and inconsistent case law invite us their revision or consistent interpretation. The drawbacks of the CISG have also been well responded in the Amendment Draft of the KCC. Nevertheless, it is quite unfortunate that the Amendment Draft of the KCC still has a rule that regards any purported performance with non-material alteration of the terms of an offer as an acceptance. Originality/value This study may provide legal and practical advice to both the seller and the buyer when they enter into a contract for international sales of goods. In addition, it may render us an insight into newly developed or developing rules in this area and show us how they interact with each other. Furthermore, it may be particularly useful in Korea where there is an ongoing discussion for revision of the KCC.

scholarly journals Involvement of loop 5 lysine residues and the N-terminal β-hairpin of the ribotoxin hirsutellin A on its insecticidal activity

2016 ◽  
Vol 397 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Olombrada ◽  
Lucía García-Ortega ◽  
Javier Lacadena ◽  
Mercedes Oñaderra ◽  
José G. Gavilanes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Sites ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
The Other ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Ribonucleolytic Activity ◽  
The Family ◽  
Lysine Residues ◽  
Hirsutella Thompsonii ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Ribotoxins are cytotoxic members of the family of fungal extracellular ribonucleases best represented by RNase T1. They share a high degree of sequence identity and a common structural fold, including the geometric arrangement of their active sites. However, ribotoxins are larger, with a well-defined N-terminal β-hairpin, and display longer and positively charged unstructured loops. These structural differences account for their cytotoxic properties. Unexpectedly, the discovery of hirsutellin A (HtA), a ribotoxin produced by the invertebrate pathogen Hirsutella thompsonii, showed how it was possible to accommodate these features into a shorter amino acid sequence. Examination of HtA N-terminal β-hairpin reveals differences in terms of length, charge, and spatial distribution. Consequently, four different HtA mutants were prepared and characterized. One of them was the result of deleting this hairpin [Δ(8-15)] while the other three affected single Lys residues in its close spatial proximity (K115E, K118E, and K123E). The results obtained support the general conclusion that HtA active site would show a high degree of plasticity, being able to accommodate electrostatic and structural changes not suitable for the other previously known larger ribotoxins, as the variants described here only presented small differences in terms of ribonucleolytic activity and cytotoxicity against cultured insect cells.

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