Developmental modulation of the temporal relationship between brain and behavior.

Full Abstract

Humans and songbirds shape learned vocalizations during a sensorimotor sensitive period or "babbling" phase. The brain mechanisms that underlie the shaping of vocalizations by sensory feedback are not known. We examined song behavior and brain activity in zebra finches during singing as they actively shaped their song toward a tutor model. We now show that the temporal relationship of behavior and activity in the premotor area HVC changes with the development of song behavior. During sensorimotor learning, HVC bursting activity both preceded and followed learned vocalizations by hundreds of milliseconds. Correspondingly, the duration of bursts that occurred during ongoing song motif behavior was prolonged in juveniles, as compared with adults, and was inversely correlated with song maturation. Multielectrode single-unit recording in juveniles revealed that single fast-spiking neurons were active both before and after vocalization. These same neurons responded to auditory stimuli. Collectively, these data indicate that a key aspect of sensory critical periods--prolonged bursting--also applies to sensorimotor development. In addition, prolonged motor discharge and sensory input coincide in single neurons of the developing song system, providing the necessary cellular elements for sensorimotor shaping through activity-dependent mechanisms.

Author information

Author/s: Crandall, Shane R (SR); Aoki, Naoya (N); Nick, Teresa A (TA);

Affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neurobehavioral Development, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

Grants: R01 DC 007384 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; R01 DC007384-01A1 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; R01 DC007384-02 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Journal of neurophysiology (J Neurophysiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jan; vol 97 (issue 1) : pp 806-16

Dates: Created 2007/01/17; Completed 2007/03/09; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 17079340, 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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