Neural activation in response to conspecific songs in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) embryos and nestlings

Rivera, Moises; Cealie, MaKenna; Hauber, Márk E.; Kleindorfer, Sonia; Liu, Wan chun

doi:10.1097/wnr.0000000000001187

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Nevertheless, selectivity for natural auditory stimuli, such as songs, is a feature that is present in NCM throughout development (e.g., Chew et al., 1995; Stripling et al., 2001; Vahaba et al., 2017). Even embryos and nestlings show a nonsignificant trend toward conspecific selectivity in immediate early gene ZENK expression in the auditory forebrain (Rivera et al., 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our current knowledge of neural responses in very young songbirds is minimal. Extant neurophysiological studies in young birds show that auditory brainstem responses to sound stimulation do not reach adult‐level sensitivity until about 20 dph (Amin et al., 2007; Brittan‐Powell & Dooling, 2004) and that ZENK expression increases significantly in response to conspecific song over silence levels in embryo and nestling auditory forebrain (Rivera et al., 2019). To our knowledge, no previous study has performed in vivo extracellular recordings in the auditory forebrain of birds younger than 20 dph.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adult‐like neural representation of species‐specific songs in the auditory forebrain of zebra finch nestlings

Schroeder

Remage‐Healey

2021

Developmental Neurobiology

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Encoding of conspecific signals during development can reinforce species barriers as well as set the stage for learning and production of species‐typical vocalizations. In altricial songbirds, the development of the auditory system is not complete at hatching, so it is unknown the degree to which recently hatched young can process auditory signals like birdsong. We measured in vivo extracellular responses to song stimuli in a zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) secondary auditory forebrain region, the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM). We recorded from three age groups between 13 days post‐hatch and adult to identify possible shifts in stimulus encoding that occur before the opening of the sensitive period of song motor learning. We did not find differences in putative cell type composition, firing rate, response strength, and selectivity across ages. Across ages narrow‐spiking units had higher firing rates, response strength, accuracy, and trial‐by‐trial reliability along with lower selectivity than broad‐spiking units. In addition, we showed that stimulus‐specific adaptation, a characteristic of adult NCM, was also present in nestlings and fledglings. These results indicate that most features of secondary auditory processing are already adult‐like shortly after hatching. Furthermore, we showed that selectivity for species‐specific stimuli is similar across all ages, with the greatest fidelity in temporal coding in response to conspecific song and domesticated Bengalese finch song, and reduced fidelity in response to owl finch song, a more ecologically relevant heterospecific, and white noise. Our study provides the first evidence that the electrophysiological properties of higher‐order auditory neurons are already mature in nestling songbirds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult‐like neural representation of species‐specific songs in the auditory forebrain of zebra finch nestlings

Schroeder

Remage‐Healey

2021

Developmental Neurobiology

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“…For example, conspecific calls induced greater ZENK production relative to silent controls in the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM) and CMM of ring doves ( Streptopelia risoria ), but not greater than compared to song presentations of zebra finch (Terpstra et al , ). Similarly, ZENK expression was greater in the auditory forebrain (CMM, NCM and field L combined) of embryonic zebra finches in response to conspecific song than silence, but not significantly different relative to two different heterospecific song playbacks) (Rivera et al , ). In male adult zebra finches, both conspecific and heterospecific songs induced greater neural firing rates within the NCM when compared to pure tones and bursts of white noise, but there were no statistical differences in either the mean or the population distribution of electrophysiological responses to conspecific versus heterospecific stimuli (Stripling, Volman, & Clayton, ).…”

Section: Neural Responses To Species‐specific Soundsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Neural mechanisms of auditory species recognition in birds

et al. 2019

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Auditory communication in humans and other animals frequently takes place in noisy environments with many co‐occurring signallers. Receivers are thus challenged to rapidly recognize salient auditory signals and filter out irrelevant sounds. Most bird species produce a variety of complex vocalizations that function to communicate with other members of their own species and behavioural evidence broadly supports preferences for conspecific over heterospecific sounds (auditory species recognition). However, it remains unclear whether such auditory signals are categorically recognized by the sensory and central nervous system. Here, we review 53 published studies that compare avian neural responses between conspecific versus heterospecific vocalizations. Irrespective of the techniques used to characterize neural activity, distinct nuclei of the auditory forebrain are consistently shown to be repeatedly conspecific selective across taxa, even in response to unfamiliar individuals with distinct acoustic properties. Yet, species‐specific neural discrimination is not a stereotyped auditory response, but is modulated according to its salience depending, for example, on ontogenetic exposure to conspecific versus heterospecific stimuli. Neuromodulators, in particular norepinephrine, may mediate species recognition by regulating the accuracy of neuronal coding for salient conspecific stimuli. Our review lends strong support for neural structures that categorically recognize conspecific signals despite the highly variable physical properties of the stimulus. The available data are in support of a ‘perceptual filter’‐based mechanism to determine the saliency of the signal, in that species identity and social experience combine to influence the neural processing of species‐specific auditory stimuli. Finally, we present hypotheses and their testable predictions, to propose next steps in species‐recognition research into the emerging model of the neural conceptual construct in avian auditory recognition.

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“…The process through which developing young memorize the acoustic communication signals of adults in humans and songbirds has been a critical research rationale and funding source supporting zebra finch studies. The learning of adult male songs by juveniles is particularly strong during early sensory periods, when embryos ( Antonson et al, 2021 ), nestlings ( Rivera et al, 2019 ), and juveniles ( Brainard and Doupe, 2000 ) likely form a sensory representation of the 'tutor song' ( Figure 3 ). Just as juvenile females develop long-term song-type preferences used for mate choice based on early experiences with their own fathers ( Riebel, 2000 ; Chen et al, 2017 ), young males also learn and then actively practice to produce songs that match their paternal (tutor) songs ( Tchernichovski et al, 2001 ; Figure 3 ).…”

Section: Genes and Brains For Vocal Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurogenomic insights into the behavioral and vocal development of the zebra finch

Hauber

Louder

Griffith

2021

eLife

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The zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) is a socially monogamous and colonial opportunistic breeder with pronounced sexual differences in singing and plumage coloration. Its natural history has led to it becoming a model species for research into sex differences in vocal communication, as well as behavioral, neural and genomic theories of imitative auditory learning. As scientists tap into the genetic and behavioral diversity of both wild and captive lineages, the zebra finch will continue to inform research into culture, learning and social bonding, as well as adaptability to a changing climate.

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Neural activation in response to conspecific songs in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) embryos and nestlings

Cited by 19 publications

References 22 publications

Adult‐like neural representation of species‐specific songs in the auditory forebrain of zebra finch nestlings

Adult‐like neural representation of species‐specific songs in the auditory forebrain of zebra finch nestlings

Neural mechanisms of auditory species recognition in birds

Neurogenomic insights into the behavioral and vocal development of the zebra finch

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