Research article summary (published 6 Oct 1976):

Sexual dimorphism in vocal control areas of the songbird brain.

Full Abstract

In canaries and zebra finches, three vocal control areas in the brain are strikingly larger in males than in females. A fourth, area X of the lobus parolfactorius, is well developed in males of both species, less well developed in femal canaries, and absent or not recognizable in femal zebra finches. These size differences correlate well with differences in singing behavior. Males of both species learn song by reference to auditory information, and females do not normally sing. Exogenous testosterone induces singing in female canaries but not in female zebra finches. This is believed to be the first report of such gross sexual dimorphism in a vertebrate brain.

Author information

Author/s: Nottebohm, F (F); Arnold, A P (AP);

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1976-Oct; vol 194 (issue 4261) : pp 211-3

Dates: Created 1976/11/01; Completed 1976/11/01; Revised 2007/03/19;

PMID: 959852, 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 Birds - anatomy & histology Brain - anatomy & histology Canaries - anatomy & histology Female

Female Male Organ Size Sex Differentiation Vocalization, Animal - physiology

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