The goal of this research is to continue the investigation of motor coordination of song production in songbirds. The main focus will be on aspects of song production and modification that have received little or no attention to date. The various peripheral motor patterns will be studied in spontaneously singing birds with a set of well-established techniques, including recording of airflow and respiratory pressure, electrical activity of muscles and beak movements. To investigate the integration of beak movements into the motor control of song production, beak movements will be recorded during song development and again after song has become stereotyped. In addition, the role of the jaw muscles effecting these movements will be investigated for the first time. The dependence of beak movements on acoustic feedback will be studied by manipulating song output. The investigation into the detailed role of the muscle systems controlling the two independent sound generators will be continued by completing electromyographic recordings in two species. In addition to elucidating the role of syringeal muscles in the generation of various sounds, this research will allow the first assessment of whether different individuals can generate similar sounds using different combinations of muscle activation patterns or whether constraints dictate a certain pattern. Finally, the physiological and histological characteristics of the various muscles involved in sound generation and modification will be investigated for the first time. This information will be very important in assessing the peripheral constraints on temporal and acoustic modulation of song. Knowing the limits of the peripheral systems will then allow inferences about necessary features, such as temporal precision and coordination, of the central motor control systems. An additional level of complexity in motor coordination will be explored in the brown-headed cowbird by studying the development of the intricate integration between the complex visual display and song. Together these experiments will advance our knowledge of peripheral motor events that lead to the production of song in songbirds. Because singing is a complex, learned vocal behavior with many parallels to human speech and singing, the results of the proposed experiments will not only further our basic knowledge about motor control but also enhance our understanding of similarities and differences between this animal model system and the human system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC004390-09
Application #
7388794
Study Section
Motor Function, Speech and Rehabilitation Study Section (MFSR)
Program Officer
Shekim, Lana O
Project Start
2000-01-01
Project End
2010-03-31
Budget Start
2008-04-01
Budget End
2009-03-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$285,732
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Meyers, Ron A; McFarland, Joshua C (2016) Anatomy and histochemistry of spread-wing posture inbirds. 4. Eagles soar with fast, not slow muscle ?bres. Acta Zool 97:319-324
Riede, Tobias; Schilling, Nadja; Goller, Franz (2013) The acoustic effect of vocal tract adjustments in zebra finches. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 199:57-69
Mackelprang, Rebecca; Goller, Franz (2013) Ventilation patterns of the songbird lung/air sac system during different behaviors. J Exp Biol 216:3611-9
Riede, Tobias (2013) Stereotypic laryngeal and respiratory motor patterns generate different call types in rat ultrasound vocalization. J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol 319:213-24
Hoepfner, Amanda R; Goller, Franz (2013) Atypical song reveals spontaneously developing coordination between multi-modal signals in brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). PLoS One 8:e65525
Julias, Margaret; Riede, Tobias; Cook, Douglas (2013) Visualizing collagen network within human and rhesus monkey vocal folds using polarized light microscopy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 122:135-44
Cooper, Brenton G; Mendez, Jorge M; Saar, Sigal et al. (2012) Age-related changes in the Bengalese finch song motor program. Neurobiol Aging 33:564-8
Prince, Ben; Riede, Tobias; Goller, Franz (2011) Sexual dimorphism and bilateral asymmetry of syrinx and vocal tract in the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). J Morphol 272:1527-36
Klemuk, Sarah A; Riede, Tobias; Walsh, Edward J et al. (2011) Adapted to roar: functional morphology of tiger and lion vocal folds. PLoS One 6:e27029
Zollinger, Sue Anne; Goller, Franz; Brumm, Henrik (2011) Metabolic and respiratory costs of increasing song amplitude in zebra finches. PLoS One 6:e23198

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