Audition and Hemispheric Specialization in Songbirds and New Evidence from Australian Magpies

Kaplan, Gisela

doi:10.3390/sym9070099

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 140 publications

(170 reference statements)

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“…Taking all of the available evidence of asymmetry in zebra finches into account indicates that lateralised brain function is the same as in other avian species. At the least, use of the right eye and left hemisphere to discriminate grain from pebbles [34] and the left eye and right hemisphere to attend to predators is consistent with the pattern of lateralisation in chicks, magpies [63], and other avian species (see Introduction). One apparent discrepancy remains, and that concerns copulation and courtship.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Lateral Asymmetry of Brain and Behaviour in the Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata

2018

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Lateralisation of eye use indicates differential specialisation of the brain hemispheres. We tested eye use by zebra finches to view a model predator, a monitor lizard, and compared this to eye use to view a non-threatening visual stimulus, a jar. We used a modified method of scoring eye preference of zebra finches, since they often alternate fixation of a stimulus with the lateral, monocular visual field of one eye and then the other, known as biocular alternating fixation. We found a significant and consistent preference to view the lizard using the left lateral visual field, and no significant eye preference to view the jar. This finding is consistent with specialisation of the left eye system, and right hemisphere, to attend and respond to predators, as found in two other avian species and also in non-avian vertebrates. Our results were considered together with hemispheric differences in the zebra finch for processing, producing, and learning song, and with evidence of right-eye preference in visual searching and courtship behaviour. We conclude that the zebra finch brain has the same general pattern of asymmetry for visual processing as found in other vertebrates and suggest that, contrary to earlier indications from research on lateralisation of song, this may also be the case for auditory processing.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Lateral Asymmetry of Brain and Behaviour in the Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata

2018

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“…Our results agree with previous experimental studies on other bird species, including passerines (Larsen and Dabelsteen 1990;Gate et al 2005;Patricelli 2007;Stanger-Hall et al 2018) and support that these birds use both visual and acoustic languages during sexual behaviour. Moreover, some avian species combine between this two signal modules to improve and/or maximize the information exchange, as has been shown in zebra finch and other birds (Wang et al 2008;Ullrich et al 2016;Kaplan 2017). However, the present work shows paradoxical results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Field investigation of Turtle doves’ courtship: vocal calls versus arc-flight

Mansouri

Dakki

Squalli

et al. 2020

JABB

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During the breeding season, many avian species produce complex expressions to attract their mates. In turtle doves Streptopelia turtur, male signals visually and acoustically during courtship. The only previous study on turtle doves' song was limited to quantifying acoustic expressions and their role in the detection of turtle doves. In the present study, we defined two types of languages in turtle dove's courtship display: "arc-shaped" flights and vocal "roux", with the aim to investigate, under natural conditions, their attractive role towards females. Similarly, the influence of intraspecific competitors and position of singing were analysed during two breeding seasons (2016)(2017). Summarizing, results chow that male turtle doves combined acoustic and arc-flight displays to attract mates, with intense expressions between May and July. Throughout the day, vocal calls and flights are concentrated between 8:00-10:00 (morning) and 16:00-18:00 (evening). Moreover, the duration of the acoustic display is more important than flying expressions. On the other hand, turtle doves sing on trees (vertical support) more than ground, with a complex frequencies and amplitudes (sound calls) to spread out their calls toward females. However, the presence of competitors in the same field increase rate of singing and flying, in order to ensure mates attraction.

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“…By contrast, social recognition is known to be largely right-hemisphere controlled [70,71] and, as Yamazaki at al. [72] concluded, cognition overall may be largely asymmetrical [73].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain Size Associated with Foot Preferences in Australian Parrots

Kaplan

Rogers

2021

Symmetry

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Since foot preference of cockatoos and parrots to hold and manipulate food and other objects has been associated with better ability to perform certain tasks, we predicted that either strength or direction of foot preference would correlate with brain size. Our study of 25 psittacine species of Australia found that species with larger absolute brain mass have stronger foot preferences and that percent left-footedness is correlated positively with brain mass. In a sub-sample of 11 species, we found an association between foot preference and size of the nidopallial region of the telencephalon, an area equivalent to the mammalian cortex and including regions with executive function and other higher-level functions. Our analysis showed that percent left-foot use correlates positively and significantly with size of the nidopallium relative to the whole brain, but not with the relative size of the optic tecta. Psittacine species with stronger left-foot preferences have larger brains, with the nidopallium making up a greater proportion of those brains. Our results are the first to show an association between brain size and asymmetrical limb use by parrots and cockatoos. Our results support the hypothesis that limb preference enhances brain capacity and higher (nidopallial) functioning.

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Audition and Hemispheric Specialization in Songbirds and New Evidence from Australian Magpies

Cited by 14 publications

References 140 publications

Lateral Asymmetry of Brain and Behaviour in the Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata

Lateral Asymmetry of Brain and Behaviour in the Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata

Field investigation of Turtle doves’ courtship: vocal calls versus arc-flight

Brain Size Associated with Foot Preferences in Australian Parrots

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