Developmental programming by prenatal sounds: insights into possible mechanisms

Mariette, Mylene M.

doi:10.1242/jeb.246696

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 194 publications

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“…Sound-induced vibrations of the egg and bone conduction hearing could provide an alternative explanation for the detection of heat calls by zebra finch embryos (Mariette, 2024).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Postnatal hearing development limits early parent-to-offspring vocal communication and gates sensorimotor learning in the zebra finch

Anttonen,

Christensen-Dalsgaard,

Elemans

2024

Preprint

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Hearing is critical for vocal communication, and in birds its onset is linked to egg hatching. Hearing develops after hatching in early hatching (altricial) species, while already functional in the egg in later hatching (precocial) species. Recent work suggests that altricial zebra finches exhibit parent-to-embryo acoustic communication, requiring functional, high-frequency hearing already in the egg. Yet, the early postnatal development of their auditory sensitivity remains unknown. By measuring hearing and vibration-detection capacity during postnatal development in zebra finches, we show that zebra finch hatchlings are deaf even to loud, broadband sounds. Auditory nerve sensitivity develops gradually in a low-to-high frequency manner. Auditory nerve responses show adult-like properties only after 20 days from hatching. Our data provide evidence against the plausibility of early parent-to-offspring acoustic communication in zebra finches and suggest that hearing functionality may set the onset of vocal learning in zebra finches.

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“…Sound-induced vibrations of the egg and bone conduction hearing could provide an alternative explanation for the detection of heat calls by zebra finch embryos (Mariette, 2024).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sound-induced vibrations of the egg and bone conduction hearing could provide an alternative explanation for the detection of heat calls by zebra finch embryos (Mariette, 2024). However, the apparent lack of BC-ABRs suggest that bone conduction hearing experienced by zebra finches is limited or non-existent (Figs 3, 4).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postnatal hearing development limits early parent-to-offspring vocal communication and gates sensorimotor learning in the zebra finch

Anttonen,

Christensen-Dalsgaard,

Elemans

2024

Preprint

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Exposure to calls before hatching affects the post-hatching behaviour of domestic chickens

Gall,

Letherbarrow,

Strandburg-Peshkin

et al. 2024

R. Soc. Open Sci.

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The soundscape experienced by animals early in life can affect their behaviour later in life. For birds, sounds experienced in the egg can influence how individuals learn to respond to specific calls post-hatching. However, how early acoustic experiences affect subsequent social behaviour remains unknown. Here, we investigate how exposure to maternal ‘cluck’ calls pre-hatching affects the behaviour of domestic chickens ( Gallus gallus domesticus ) at 3–5 days and 17–21 days old. We incubated eggs and played cluck calls to half of them. After hatching, we raised chicks in small groups occupying different enclosures. At 3–5 days old, we tested chicks’ responses to three stimuli: (i) background sound, (ii) chick calls and (iii) cluck calls. We found that the pre-hatching experience of cluck calls reduced the likelihood of moving in response to all three stimuli. At 17–21 days old, some chicks explored beyond their own enclosure and ‘visited’ other groups. Chicks exposed to cluck calls before hatching were three times more likely to enter another group’s enclosure than control chicks, and this was unaffected by the chicks’ social connectedness. Our results indicate age- and context-dependent responses of chicks to pre-hatching cluck-call playbacks, with potential long-term effects on individual social behaviour.

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Maternal in‐nest call structure reduces habituation risk in songbird embryos

Austin,

Common,

Colombelli‐Négrel

et al. 2024

Journal of Avian Biology

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Repetition of the same vocal stimulus during vocal learning may result in habituation. Therefore, selection may favor vocal tutors that produce vocal stimuli with characteristics that reduce the risk of habituation. Superb fairywren Malurus cyaneus mothers produce a two‐element (A and signature B) call to embryos, but embryos only produce one element type (B) after hatching. Why do mothers use the A element to embryos? We broadcast calls with one (B) or two (AB) element types and measured embryo response. Embryos habituated to calls with one element type and remained responsive to calls with both. We conclude that signal characteristics in tutors may guide learning to retain pupil attention during learning.

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Developmental programming by prenatal sounds: insights into possible mechanisms

Cited by 6 publications

References 194 publications

Postnatal hearing development limits early parent-to-offspring vocal communication and gates sensorimotor learning in the zebra finch

Postnatal hearing development limits early parent-to-offspring vocal communication and gates sensorimotor learning in the zebra finch

Exposure to calls before hatching affects the post-hatching behaviour of domestic chickens

Maternal in‐nest call structure reduces habituation risk in songbird embryos

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