The central goal of this proposal is to understand the role of activity in LMAN during song development. First, activity will be removed from LMAN by using reversible pharmacological lesion, and it is hypothesized that this will cause an increase in song stereotypy similar to permanent lesions of LMAN. To determine whether LMAN can have acute effects on song, activity will be induced in LMAN using direct electrical stimulation. This experiment will address the question whether LMAN can produce vocalizations or disrupt ongoing song during sensory motor learning. Also, LMAN will be chronically stimulated throughout sensory motor learning to observe how LMAN can affect song quality long-term. The second part of this proposal will determine the relevance of low-threshold Ca++ spike, (LTS) present in only young zebra finch LMAN neurons, to sensory acquisition. This first will be tested by recording intra-cellularly from LMAN neurons from acoustically isolated zebra finches. Isolating zebra finches serves to extend the critical period of sensory acquisition, and thus should also delay the disappearance on the LTS. Next, an antagonist of the LTS will be infused into LMAN via cannulae to determine whether blocking the LTS can decrease the amount of syllables a young zebra finch can copy from its tutor during song learning.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31MH011872-03
Application #
6186679
Study Section
Psychobiology, Behavior, and Neuroscience Review Committee (PBN)
Program Officer
Chavez, Mark
Project Start
2000-05-01
Project End
Budget Start
2000-05-01
Budget End
2000-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$12,380
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
071723621
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705