Central pattern generator for vocalization: is there a vertebrate morphotype?

Bass, Andrew H.

doi:10.1016/j.conb.2014.06.012

Cited by 35 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The current study maps FoxP2 mRNA expression in the brain of the highly vocal plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus) that has been the subject of comprehensive mapping of the central vocal, auditory, and neuroendocrine systems that modulate vocal-acoustic behaviors [ Fig. 1; see reviews in Bass, 2014;Forlano et al, 2015;Feng and Bass, 2017]. Comparison of the brain expression pattern of FoxP2 in midshipman with findings in other teleosts, as well as in mice and birds, suggests a pattern of evolutionarily conserved FoxP2-expressing brain regions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

FoxP2 Expression in a Highly Vocal Teleost Fish with Comparisons to Tetrapods

Pengra

Marchaterre

Bass³

2018

Brain Behav Evol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Motivated by studies of speech deficits in humans, several studies over the past two decades have investigated the potential role of a forkhead domain transcription factor, FoxP2, in the central control of acoustic signaling/vocalization among vertebrates. Comparative neuroanatomical studies that mainly include mammalian and avian species have mapped the distribution of FoxP2 expression in multiple brain regions that imply a greater functional significance beyond vocalization that might be shared broadly across vertebrate lineages. To date, reports for teleost fish have been limited in number and scope to nonvocal species. Here, we map the neuroanatomical distribution of FoxP2 mRNA expression in a highly vocal teleost, the plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus). We report an extensive overlap between FoxP2 expression and vocal, auditory, and steroid-signaling systems with robust expression at multiple sites in the telencephalon, the preoptic area, the diencephalon, and the midbrain. Label was far more restricted in the hindbrain though robust in one region of the reticular formation. A comparison with other teleosts and tetrapods suggests an evolutionarily conserved FoxP2 phenotype important to vocal-acoustic and, more broadly, sensorimotor function among vertebrates.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

FoxP2 Expression in a Highly Vocal Teleost Fish with Comparisons to Tetrapods

Pengra

Marchaterre

Bass³

2018

Brain Behav Evol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For instance, a recent study in rats revealed that expiratory laryngeal motor neurons in the nucleus ambiguus receive close appositions from descending TH-ir varicosities that originate, in part, from the AP and nucleus tractus solitarius [Zhao et al, 2015]. These caudal TH- ir groups also likely provide local innervation of the nucleus ambiguus in mammals [Rinaman, 2011], the tracheosyringeal division of the hypoglossal motor nucleus in birds [Bottjer, 1993; Mello et al, 1998; Appeltants et al, 2001], and the vagal motor nucleus and inferior reticular formation (Ri) in amphibians [Gonzalez and Smeets, 1991], all comparable vocal areas to midshipman VPG nuclei [Bass et al, 2008; Bass, 2014]. As a result, CA modulation of vocal motor patterning may also be a conserved vertebrate character [Forlano et al, 2014].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Batrachoidid fishes (midshipman and toadfishes) possess a straightforward repertoire of vocalizations complemented by vocal circuitry that is evolutionarily conserved [Goodson and Bass, 2002; Bass et al, 2008; Bass, 2014]. The plainfin midshipman fish, Porichthys notatus , is a well-studied neuroethological model for investigating the neural and hormonal mechanisms underlying vertebrate vocal behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Batrachoidid fishes possess an expansive vocal-motor network, including a rhythmically firing vocal pattern generator (VPG), located in the caudal hindbrain-rostral spinal cord [Chagnaud et al, 2011; Bass et al, 2008; Bass, 2014]. Preoptic and hypothalamic ventral (vT) and anterior (AT) tuberal nuclei, which are reciprocally connected to the ventral telencephalon, project to the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) and paratoral tegmentum, (PTT), which in turn innervate the vocal prepacemaker nucleus (VPP), the most rostral part of the VPG [Goodson and Bass, 2002; Kittelberger and Bass, 2013].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Catecholaminergic Fiber Innervation of the Vocal Motor System Is Intrasexually Dimorphic in a Teleost with Alternative Reproductive Tactics

Ghahramani

Timothy²,

Kaur

et al. 2015

Brain Behav Evol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Catecholamines, which include the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline, are known modulators of sensorimotor function, reproduction, and sexually motivated behaviors across vertebrates, including vocal-acoustic communication. Recently, we demonstrated robust catecholaminergic (CA) innervation throughout the vocal motor system in the plainfin midshipman fish Porichthys notatus, a seasonal breeding marine teleost that produces vocal signals for social communication. There are 2 distinct male reproductive morphs in this species: type I males establish nests and court females with a long-duration advertisement call, while type II males sneak spawn to steal fertilizations from type I males. Like females, type II males can only produce brief, agonistic, grunt type vocalizations. Here, we tested the hypothesis that intrasexual differences in the number of CA neurons and their fiber innervation patterns throughout the vocal motor pathway may provide neural substrates underlying divergence in reproductive behavior between morphs. We employed immunofluorescence (-ir) histochemistry to measure tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; a rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis) neuron numbers in several forebrain and hindbrain nuclei as well as TH-ir fiber innervation throughout the vocal pathway in type I and type II males collected from nests during the summer reproductive season. After controlling for differences in body size, only one group of CA neurons displayed an unequivocal difference between male morphs: the extraventricular vagal-associated TH-ir neurons, located just lateral to the dimorphic vocal motor nucleus (VMN), were significantly greater in number in type II males. In addition, type II males exhibited greater TH-ir fiber density within the VMN and greater numbers of TH-ir varicosities with putative contacts on vocal motor neurons. This strong inverse relationship between the predominant vocal morphotype and the CA innervation of vocal motor neurons suggests that catecholamines may function to inhibit vocal output in midshipman. These findings support catecholamines as direct modulators of vocal behavior, and differential CA input appears reflective of social and reproductive behavioral divergence between male midshipman morphs.

show abstract

“…Comparative analysis of development led to the hypothesis that an evolutionarily conserved neural network in the caudal medulla generates vocalization (Bass, 2014; Bass and Baker, 1997; Bass et al, 2008). Output from this conserved vocal generator projects to hindbrain and cervical spinal cord premotor and motor neurons leading to species-specific vocalization behaviors (Bass, 2014). Whether these premotor and motor neurons are also evolutionarily conserved is unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the evolutionary conservation of vocal motoneurons in vertebrates

Albersheim-Carter

Blubaum

Ballagh

et al. 2016

Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Medullary motoneurons drive vocalization in many vertebrate lineages including fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The developmental history of vocal motoneuron populations in each of these lineages remains largely unknown. The highly conserved transcription factor Paired-like Homeobox 2b (Phox2b) is presumed to be expressed in all vertebrate hindbrain branchial motoneurons, including laryngeal motoneurons essential for vocalization in humans. We used immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to examine Phox2b protein and mRNA expression in caudal hindbrain and rostral spinal cord motoneuron populations in seven species across five chordate classes. Phox2b was present in motoneurons dedicated to sound production in mice and frogs (bullfrog, African clawed frog), but not those in bird (zebra finch) or bony fish (midshipman, channel catfish). Overall, the pattern of caudal medullary motoneuron Phox2b expression was conserved across vertebrates and similar to expression in sea lamprey. These observations suggest that motoneurons dedicated to sound production in vertebrates are not derived from a single developmentally or evolutionarily conserved progenitor pool.

show abstract

Central pattern generator for vocalization: is there a vertebrate morphotype?

Cited by 35 publications

References 48 publications

FoxP2 Expression in a Highly Vocal Teleost Fish with Comparisons to Tetrapods

FoxP2 Expression in a Highly Vocal Teleost Fish with Comparisons to Tetrapods

Catecholaminergic Fiber Innervation of the Vocal Motor System Is Intrasexually Dimorphic in a Teleost with Alternative Reproductive Tactics

Testing the evolutionary conservation of vocal motoneurons in vertebrates

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About