scholarly journals Predict future learning accuracy by the structural properties of the brain, an in vivo longitudinal MRI study in songbirds

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hamaide ◽  
K. Lukacova ◽  
M. Verhoye ◽  
A. Van der Linden
Keyword(s):  
Structural Properties ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Communication Signals ◽  
Song Control System ◽  
Structural Architecture ◽  
Song Control ◽  
Mri Study

AbstractHuman speech and bird song are acoustically complex communication signals that are learned by imitation during a sensitive period early in life. Although the neural networks indispensable for song learning are well established, it remains unclear which neural circuitries differentiate good from bad song copiers. By combining in vivo structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging with song analyses in juvenile male zebra finches during song learning and beyond, we discovered that song imitation accuracy correlates with the structural architecture of four distinct brain areas, none of which pertain to the song control system. Furthermore, the structural properties of a secondary auditory area in the left hemisphere, are capable to predict future song copying accuracy, already at the earliest stages of learning, before initiating vocal practicing. These findings appoint novel brain regions important for song learning outcome and inform that ultimate performance in part depends on factors experienced before vocal practicing.

scholarly journals In vivo assessment of the neural substrate linked with vocal imitation accuracy

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Hamaide ◽  
Kristina Lukacova ◽  
Jasmien Orije ◽  
Georgios A Keliris ◽  
Marleen Verhoye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Regions ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Communication Signals ◽  
Vocal Imitation ◽  
Structural Architecture ◽  
Song Control

Human speech and bird song are acoustically complex communication signals that are learned by imitation during a sensitive period early in life. Although the brain areas indispensable for speech and song learning are known, the neural circuits important for enhanced or reduced vocal performance remain unclear. By combining in vivo structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging with song analyses in juvenile male zebra finches during song learning and beyond, we reveal that song imitation accuracy correlates with the structural architecture of four distinct brain areas, none of which pertain to the song control system. Furthermore, the structural properties of a secondary auditory area in the left hemisphere, are capable to predict future song copying accuracy, already at the earliest stages of learning, before initiating vocal practicing. These findings appoint novel brain regions important for song learning outcome and inform that ultimate performance in part depends on factors experienced before vocal practicing.

scholarly journals Use of PG-21 immunocytochemistry to detect androgen receptors in the songbird brain.

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 1075-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
G T Smith ◽  
E A Brenowitz ◽  
G S Prins
Keyword(s):  
Androgen Receptor ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Behavioral Plasticity ◽  
Androgen Receptors ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Cell Nuclei ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Song Control System ◽  
Song Control ◽  
Avian Song

The avian song control system is an excellent model in which to study the effects of gonadal steroid hormones on neural and behavioral plasticity. Several of the brain regions that control song behavior concentrate androgens and/or estrogens. Investigations of the distribution and regulation of androgen receptors have been limited by the lack of a reliable immunocytochemical method to detect androgen receptors in the songbird brain. We describe a protocol by which the PG-21 polygonal antibody to the rat androgen receptor can be used to label androgen receptor-containing cells in the songbird brain. By treating songbirds of several species with testosterone 90 min before sacrifice and by using relatively low concentrations (0.5 0.75 microg/ml) of PG-21 antibody to reduce nonspecific background staining, we were able to obtain strong specific labeling of cell nuclei in androgen-sensitive brain regions. This technique will facilitate the study of the role of androgens in mediating neural plasticity in the avian brain. Testosterone pretreatment may also facilitate the use of this antibody to label androgen receptors in tissues from a wide array of nonmammalian species.

Brain anatomy and ageing in non-demented adults with Down's syndrome: an in vivo MRI study

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Beacher ◽  
E. Daly ◽  
A. Simmons ◽  
V. Prasher ◽  
R. Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Down's Syndrome ◽  
Down’S Syndrome ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Accelerated Ageing ◽  
Brain Anatomy ◽  
Parietal Lobes ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Brain Ageing ◽  
Mri Study

BackgroundPeople with Down's syndrome (DS) are at high risk for developing dementia in middle age. The biological basis for this is unknown. It has been proposed that non-demented adults with DS may undergo accelerated brain ageing.MethodWe used volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and manual tracing to compare brain anatomy and ageing in 39 non-demented adults with DS and 42 healthy controls.ResultsIndividuals with DS had significant differences in brain anatomy. Furthermore, individuals with DS had a significantly greater age-related reduction in volume of frontal, temporal and parietal lobes, and a significantly greater age-related increase in volume of peripheral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).ConclusionsNon-demented adults with DS have differences in brain anatomy and ‘accelerated’ ageing of some brain regions. This may increase their risk for age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

scholarly journals Timing of perineuronal net development in the zebra finch song control system correlates with developmental song learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1883) ◽  
pp. 20180849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Cornez ◽  
Elisabeth Jonckers ◽  
Sita M. ter Haar ◽  
Annemie Van der Linden ◽  
Charlotte A. Cornil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Ocular Dominance ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Dominance Model ◽  
Perineuronal Net ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Auditory Forebrain ◽  
Song Control System ◽  
Song Control

The appearance of perineuronal nets (PNNs) represents one of the mechanisms that contribute to the closing of sensitive periods for neural plasticity. This relationship has mostly been studied in the ocular dominance model in rodents. Previous studies also indicated that PNN might control neural plasticity in the song control system of songbirds. To further elucidate this relationship, we quantified PNN expression and their localization around parvalbumin interneurons at key time-points during ontogeny in both male and female zebra finches, and correlated these data with the well-described development of song in this species. We also extended these analyses to the auditory system. The development of PNN during ontogeny correlated with song crystallization although the timing of PNN appearance in the four main telencephalic song control nuclei slightly varied between nuclei in agreement with the established role these nuclei play during song learning. Our data also indicate that very few PNN develop in the secondary auditory forebrain areas even in adult birds, which may allow constant adaptation to a changing acoustic environment by allowing synaptic reorganization during adulthood.

scholarly journals Early nutritional stress impairs development of a song-control brain region in both male and female juvenile song sparrows ( Melospiza melodia ) at the onset of song learning

2006 ◽  
Vol 273 (1600) ◽  
pp. 2559-2564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian F MacDonald ◽  
Bethany Kempster ◽  
Liana Zanette ◽  
Scott A MacDougall-Shackleton
Keyword(s):  
Food Restriction ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Nutritional Stress ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Melospiza Melodia ◽  
Developmental Stress ◽  
Song Sparrows ◽  
Control Brain ◽  
Song Control

Birdsong is a sexually selected trait and is often viewed as an indicator of male quality. The developmental stress hypothesis proposes a model by which song could be an indicator; the time during early development, when birds learn complex songs and/or local variants of song, is of rapid development and nutritional stress. Birds that cope best with this stress may better learn to produce the most effective songs. The developmental stress hypothesis predicts that early food restriction should impair development of song-control brain regions at the onset of song learning. We examined the effect of food restriction on song-control brain regions in fledgling (both sexes, 23–26 days old) song sparrows ( Melospiza melodia ). Food restriction selectively reduced HVC volume in both sexes. In addition, sex differences were evident in all three song-control regions. This study lends further support to a growing body of literature documenting a variety of behavioural, physiological and neural detriments in several songbird species resulting from early developmental stress.

scholarly journals Hatching late in the season requires flexibility in the timing of song learning

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 20150522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Leitner ◽  
Johanna Teichel ◽  
Andries Ter Maat ◽  
Cornelia Voigt
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Hatching Date ◽  
Nucleus Size ◽  
Song Control System ◽  
Song Development ◽  
Song Control ◽  
System Average

Most songbirds learn their songs from adult tutors, who can be their father or other male conspecifics. However, the variables that control song learning in a natural social context are largely unknown. We investigated whether the time of hatching of male domesticated canaries has an impact on their song development and on the neuroendocrine parameters of the song control system. Average age difference between early- and late-hatched males was 50 days with a maximum of 90 days. Song activity of adult tutor males decreased significantly during the breeding season. While early-hatched males were exposed to tutor songs for on average the first 99 days, late-hatched peers heard adult song only during the first 48 days of life. Remarkably, although hatching late in the season negatively affected body condition, no differences between both groups of males were found in song characteristics either in autumn or in the following spring. Similarly, hatching date had no effect on song nucleus size and circulating testosterone levels. Our data suggest that late-hatched males must have undergone accelerated song development. Furthermore, the limited tutor song exposure did not affect adult song organization and song performance.

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