We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Structural Changes between Seasons in the Songbird Auditory Forebrain.
- Authors
De Groof, Geert; Verhoye, Marleen; Poirier, Colline; Leemans, Alexander; Eens, Marcel; Darras, Veerle M.; Van der Linden, Annemie
- Abstract
The song control system (SCS) of seasonal songbirds shows remarkable seasonal plasticity. Male starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) sing throughout the year, but in the breeding season, when concentrations of testosterone are elevated, the song is highly sexually motivated. The main goal of this study was to investigate structural seasonal changes in regions involved in auditory processing and in socio-sexual behavior. Using in vivo Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), we measured in breeding and nonbreeding seasons volume and tissue characteristics of several brain regions of nine adult male starlings. We demonstrate that the songbird brain exhibits an extreme seasonal plasticity not merely limited to the SCS. Volumetric analysis showed seasonal telencephalon volume changes and more importantly also a volumetric change in the caudal region of the nidopallium (NCM), a region analogous to the mammalian secondary auditory cortex. Analysis of the DTI data allowed detection of seasonal changes in cellular attributes in NCM and regions involved in social behavior. This study extends our view on a seasonally dynamic avian brain which not only hones its song control system but also auditory and social systems to be prepared for the breeding season.
- Subjects
SONGBIRDS; ANIMAL sexual behavior; ANIMAL behavior; ANIMAL breeding; TELENCEPHALON
- Publication
Journal of Neuroscience, 2009, Vol 29, Issue 43, p13557
- ISSN
0270-6474
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1788-09.2009