Passerine birds are one of the few species other than humans that learn the sounds used for vocal communication during development. Vocal behavior is controlled by a highly localized system of interconnected brain nuclei, and both brain and behavior are sensitive to the influence of gonadal hormones. Thus, passerine birds provide a model system for studies of the neural and hormonal substrates of learned vocal behavior. Experiments are proposed to study the characteristics of vocal learning in two species, canaries (Serinus canarius) and zebra finches (Poephila guttata). Comparisons of these two species are interesting because zebra finches learn their vocalizations only during a restricted period of development, whereas canaries are able to learn new vocal patterns even in adulthood. Some of the approaches to be used rely on behavioral and neuroanatomical techniques, which have been successfully applied to this system by many investigators, including ourselves. A major emphasis of the current proposal is to apply electrophysiological techniques along with behavioral and morphological measures of vocal learning. A Research Career Development Award would enable me to make the necessary commitment to learning electrophysiological techniques, including the ability to make intracellular recordings both in vivo and in slice preparations. Such expertise would permit my lab to perform studies that combine behavioral, morphological and neurophysiological approaches, which would greatly enhance our understanding of neural mechanisms of vocal learning.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Modified Research Career Development Award (K04)
Project #
5K04DC000058-05
Application #
2124314
Study Section
Biopsychology Study Section (BPO)
Project Start
1990-09-30
Project End
1995-11-30
Budget Start
1994-12-01
Budget End
1995-11-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041544081
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089