This study of song perception by songbirds will contribute to the long-term goal of understanding neural mechanisms underlying human perception of speech. The focus of these experiments is the role of auditory neurons (HVc nucleus) in categorical perception (CP), wherein continuous differences in song stimuli are perceived as instances of discrete categories. Previous behavioral tests have revealed features of birdsong that evoke CP in swamp sparrows, and those features will be duplicated in this study. In the first experiment, intracellular recordings of HVc neurons will reveal whether individual neurons express categorical responses to song stimuli. If categorical responses are evident, comparison of subthreshold and action potential responses will reveal whether categorical boundaries are established in HVc or in sites presynaptic to HVc. In a second experiment, extracellular recordings of HVc neurons in awake and freely behaving birds will reveal whether categorical behavioral responses to song stimuli are accompanied by categorical responses of HVc neurons. These data will provide new insight into the role of HVc neurons in the perception of auditory signals and may suggest mechanistic features of human perception of speech. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32DC006152-01
Application #
6646326
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Sklare, Dan
Project Start
2003-03-01
Project End
2006-02-28
Budget Start
2003-03-01
Budget End
2004-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$46,420
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705