Role of sleep-related neural activity in vocal learning in the songbird

• Project/Area Number: 23700396
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neuroscience in general
• Research Institution: The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: YANAGIHARA Shin 独立行政法人理化学研究所, 発生遺伝子制御研究チーム, 研究員 (60392156)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2012
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2012)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000)
• Keywords: 大脳基底核 / 睡眠 / ソングバード / 臨界期 / 学習 / 記憶

Research Abstract

Songbird basal ganglia nucleus Area X is essential for vocal learning in the critical period. This study reveals that singing-related Area X neurons frequently show phasic increase of spiking activity while birds are naturally sleeping. This replay-like spontaneous activity of Area X neurons during sleep may be important for vocal learning in the critical period. Moreover, the method for disturbing Area X activity while recording neural activity in freely behaving songbird has been established.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Phasic basal ganglia activity associated with high-gamma oscillation during sleep in a songbird (2012)
  • Author(s): Shin Yanagihara and Neal A
  • Journal Title: Hessler Journal of Neurophysiology Volume: 107 Pages: 424-432
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Phasic basal ganglia activity associated with high-gamma oscillation during sleep in a songbird. (2012)
  • Author(s): Shin Yanagihara
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neurophysiology Volume: 107 Issue: 1 Pages: 424-432
  • DOI: 10.1152/jn.00790.2011
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Common features of neural activity during singing and sleep periods in a basal ganglia nucleus critical for vocal learning in a juvenile songbird (2011)
  • Author(s): Shin Yanagihara and Neal A
  • Journal Title: Hessler PLoS ONE Volume: 6 (10)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Common features of neural activity during singing and sleep periods in a basal ganglia nucleus critical for vocal learning in a juvenile songbird. (2011)
  • Author(s): Yanagihara S, Hessler NA.
  • Journal Title: PLoS One Volume: 6
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] The synchronous activity of lateral habenular neurons is essential for regulating hippocampal theta oscillation
  • Author(s): Hidenori Aizawa, Shin Yanagihara, Megumi Kobayashi, Kazue Niisato, Takashi Takekawa, Rie Harukuni, Thomas J. McHugh, Tomoki Fukai, Yoshikazu Isomura, Hitoshi Okamoto
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neuroscience Volume: (in press)
  • Peer Reviewed