Auditory-vocal cholinergic pathway in the songbird brain

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 1072-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Li ◽  
Ikuo Taniguchi ◽  
Hironobu Sakaguchi
Keyword(s):  
Zebra Finch ◽  
Basal Forebrain ◽  
Cholinergic Neurons ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Cholinergic Innervation ◽  
Auditory Information ◽  
Cholinergic Pathway ◽  
Song Control Nuclei ◽  
Song Control

Male zebra finches learn to imitate a tutor's song through auditory and motor learning. The two main song control nuclei in the zebra finch forebrain, the higher vocal center (HVC) and the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA), receive cholinergic innervation from the ventral paleostriatum (VP) of the basal forebrain which may play a key role in song learning. By injecting neuroanatomical tracers, we found a topographically segregated pathway from nucleus ovoidalis (Ov) to VP that in turn projects in a topographic fashion to HVC and RA. Ov is a major relay in the main ascending auditory pathway. The results suggest that the cholinergic neurons in the VP responsible for song learning are regulated by auditory information from the Ov.Key words: auditory pathway, cholinergic pathway, song control nucleus, zebra finch.

scholarly journals Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons: Linking Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose L. Martinez ◽  
Matthew D. Zammit ◽  
Nicole R. West ◽  
Bradley T. Christian ◽  
Anita Bhattacharyya
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Basal Forebrain ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Cholinergic Neurons ◽  
Cholinergic Innervation ◽  
Attention And Memory ◽  
Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons

Down syndrome (DS, trisomy 21) is characterized by intellectual impairment at birth and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology in middle age. As individuals with DS age, their cognitive functions decline as they develop AD pathology. The susceptibility to degeneration of a subset of neurons, known as basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs), in DS and AD is a critical link between cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration in both disorders. BFCNs are the primary source of cholinergic innervation to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as the amygdala. They play a critical role in the processing of information related to cognitive function and are directly engaged in regulating circuits of attention and memory throughout the lifespan. Given the importance of BFCNs in attention and memory, it is not surprising that these neurons contribute to dysfunctional neuronal circuitry in DS and are vulnerable in adults with DS and AD, where their degeneration leads to memory loss and disturbance in language. BFCNs are thus a relevant cell target for therapeutics for both DS and AD but, despite some success, efforts in this area have waned. There are gaps in our knowledge of BFCN vulnerability that preclude our ability to effectively design interventions. Here, we review the role of BFCN function and degeneration in AD and DS and identify under-studied aspects of BFCN biology. The current gaps in BFCN relevant imaging studies, therapeutics, and human models limit our insight into the mechanistic vulnerability of BFCNs in individuals with DS and AD.

scholarly journals Variation in the volume of zebra finch song control nuclei is heritable: developmental and evolutionary implications

2000 ◽  
Vol 267 (1457) ◽  
pp. 2099-2104 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Airey ◽  
Hector Castillo-Juarez ◽  
George Casella ◽  
E. John Pollak ◽  
Timothy J DeVoogd
Keyword(s):  
Zebra Finch ◽  
Song Control Nuclei ◽  
Song Control ◽  
Zebra Finch Song

Sex Differences in Neuropeptide B Staining of Song-Control Nuclei in Zebra Finch Brains

1997 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 284-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah W. Bottjer ◽  
Howard Roselinsky ◽  
Ngoc B. Tran
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Zebra Finch ◽  
Song Control Nuclei ◽  
Song Control
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document