A three-dimensional digital atlas of the starling brain

Groof, Geert De; George, Isabelle; Touj, Sara; Stacho, Martin; Jonckers, Elisabeth; Cousillas, Hugo; Hausberger, Martine; Güntürkün, Onur; Linden, Annemie Van der

doi:10.1007/s00429-015-1011-1

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…The novel approach of using laser scan data has been employed to analyse the relative sizes of brains and cerebra of several theropods in comparison with non-avian reptiles [10]. In our study, we used MRI for brain and interstitium visualisation because MRI is a superior method for soft tissue imaging [11–12]. All specimens were fixed in formalin.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volume of the crocodilian brain and endocast during ontogeny

Jirák

Janáček

2017

PLoS ONE

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Understanding complex situations and planning difficult actions require a brain of appropriate size. Animal encephalisation provides an indirect information about these abilities. The brain is entirely composed of soft tissue and, as such, rarely fossilises. As a consequence, the brain proportions and morphology of some extinct vertebrates are usually only inferred from their neurocranial endocasts. However, because the morphological configuration of the brain is not fully reflected in the endocast, knowledge of the brain/endocast relationship is essential (especially the ratio of brain volume to endocast volume or the equivalent proportion of interstitial tissue) for studying the endocasts of extinct animals. Here we assess the encephalic volume and structure of modern crocodilians. The results we obtained using ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging reveal how the endoneurocranial cavity and brain compartments of crocodilians change configuration during ontogeny. We conclude that the endocasts of adult crocodilians are elongated and expanded while their brains are more linearly organised. The highest proportion of brain tissue to endocast volume is in the prosencephalon at over 50% in all but the largest animals, whereas the proportion in other brain segments is under 50% in all but the smallest animals and embryos. Our results may enrich the field of palaeontological study by offering more precise phylogenetic interpretations of the neuroanatomic characteristics of extinct vertebrates at various ontogenetic stages.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volume of the crocodilian brain and endocast during ontogeny

Jirák

Janáček

2017

PLoS ONE

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“…Identification of labeled brain regions was accomplished by referencing avian brain atlases and key neuroanatomical landmarks, visible on slides and in photomicrographs. Brain regions were identified in house sparrows using Nixdorf-Bergweiler and Bischof (2007) , in European starlings using Nixdorf-Bergweiler and Bischof (2007) and De Groof et al (2016) , and in rock doves using Karten and Hodos (1967) . Names for brain regions identified using Karten and Hodos (1967) were updated according to Reiner et al (2004) and Jarvis et al (2005) .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonapeptide Receptor Distributions in Promising Avian Models for the Neuroecology of Flocking

et al. 2018

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Collective behaviors, including flocking and group vocalizing, are readily observable across a diversity of free-living avian populations, yet we know little about how neural and ecological factors interactively regulate these behaviors. Because of their involvement in mediating a variety of social behaviors, including avian flocking, nonapeptides are likely mediators of collective behaviors. To advance the neuroecological study of collective behaviors in birds, we sought to map the neuroanatomical distributions of nonapeptide receptors in three promising avian models that are found across a diversity of environments and widely ranging ecological conditions: European starlings, house sparrows, and rock doves. We performed receptor autoradiography using the commercially available nonapeptide receptor radioligands, 125I-ornithine vasotocin analog and 125I-linear vasopressin antagonist, on brain tissue sections from wild-caught individuals from each species. Because there is known pharmacological cross-reactivity between nonapeptide receptor subtypes, we also performed a novel, competitive-binding experiment to examine the composition of receptor populations. We detected binding in numerous regions throughout the brains of each species, with several similarities and differences worth noting. Specifically, we report that all three species exhibit binding in the lateral septum, a key brain area known to regulate avian flocking. In addition, sparrows and starlings show dense binding in the dorsal arcopallium, an area that has received scant attention in the study of social grouping. Furthermore, our competitive binding results suggest that receptor populations in sparrows and starlings differ in the lateral septum versus the dorsal arcopallium. By providing the first comprehensive maps of nonapeptide receptors in European starlings, house sparrows, and rock doves, our work supports the future use of these species as avian models for neuroecological studies of collective behaviors in wild birds.

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“…. The precise brain areas concerned have been described in detail in a recent paper on starlings’ brain atlas40 which helped us guarantee the location of our recordings. Furthermore, the artificial non-specific stimuli composed by pure tones and white noise allowed us to assess the presence of the tonotopic organization that is characteristic of Field L1839.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anesthesia and brain sensory processing: impact on neuronal responses in a female songbird

Karino

George

Loison

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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Whether anesthesia impacts brain sensory processing is a highly debated and important issue. There is a general agreement that anesthesia tends to diminish neuronal activity, but its potential impact on neuronal “tuning” is still an open question. Here we show, based on electrophysiological recordings in the primary auditory area of a female songbird, that anesthesia induces neuronal responses towards biologically irrelevant sounds and prevents the seasonal neuronal tuning towards functionally relevant species-specific song elements.

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A three-dimensional digital atlas of the starling brain

Cited by 29 publications

References 67 publications

Volume of the crocodilian brain and endocast during ontogeny

Volume of the crocodilian brain and endocast during ontogeny

Nonapeptide Receptor Distributions in Promising Avian Models for the Neuroecology of Flocking

Anesthesia and brain sensory processing: impact on neuronal responses in a female songbird

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