Research article summary (published 26 Mar 2005):

Evidence for "direct" and "indirect" pathways through the song system basal ganglia.

Full Abstract

Song learning in oscine birds relies on a circuit known as the "anterior forebrain pathway," which includes a specialized region of the avian basal ganglia. This region, area X, is embedded within a telencephalic structure considered homologous to the striatum, the input structure of the mammalian basal ganglia. Area X has many features in common with the mammalian striatum, yet has distinctive traits, including largely aspiny projection neurons that directly innervate the thalamus and a cell type that physiologically resembles neurons recorded in the mammalian globus pallidus. We have proposed that area X is a mixture of striatum and globus pallidus and has the same functional organization as circuits in the mammalian basal ganglia. Using electrophysiological and anatomical approaches, we found that area X contains a functional analog of the "direct" striatopallidothalamic pathway of mammals: axons of the striatal spiny neurons make close contacts on the somata and dendrites of pallidal cells. A subset of pallidal neurons project directly to the thalamus. Surprisingly, we found evidence that many pallidal cells may not project to the thalamus, but rather participate in a functional analog of the mammalian "indirect" pathway, which may oppose the effects of the direct pathway. Our results deepen our understanding of how information flows through area X and provide more support for the notion that song learning in oscines employs physiological mechanisms similar to basal ganglia-dependent forms of motor learning in mammals. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author information

Author/s: Farries, Michael A (MA); Ding, Long (L); Perkel, David J (DJ);

Affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-6515, USA.

Grants: MH066128 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; MH56646 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; P30 DC04661 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: The Journal of comparative neurology (J Comp Neurol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Mar; vol 484 (issue 1) : pp 93-104

Dates: Created 2005/02/22; Completed 2005/05/02; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 15717304, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Basal Ganglia - physiology Efferent Pathways - physiology Electric Stimulation Electrodes, Implanted Electrophysiology Finches - physiology

Fluorescent Dyes Glutamic Acid - physiology Male Receptors, GABA-A - physiology Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - physiology Terminology as Topic Vocalization, Animal - physiology

Associated Chemicals: Fluorescent Dyes (0) ; Receptors, GABA-A (0) ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (0) ; Glutamic Acid (56-86-0)

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