Role of basal ganglia neurons in the songbird vocal learning.

2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20700306
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Neuroscience in general
• Research Institution: The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: YANAGIHARA Shin The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, 発声行動機構研究チーム, 研究員 (60392156)
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2010
• Keywords: ソングバード / 臨界期 / 発声学習 / 大脳基底核 / 睡眠

Research Abstract

Songbird basal ganglia (BG) circuitry is critical for vocal learning, and the BG neurons shows singing-related activity. To date, it remains unknown whether the BG neurons could exhibit singing-like neural activity during sleep. This study demonstrates that (1) BG neurons in sleeping juvenile songbird exhibited characteristic neural activity similar to singing-related activity, (2) LFP recorded from adult songbird BG exhibited gamma oscillation during sleep, suggesting that these sleep-related neural activity in the songbird BG may play an important role in the learning and maintenance of song.

Research Products

• [Presentation] High-frequency oscillation of local field potential (LFP) and phase-locked spikes in a songbird basal ganglia nucleus Area X during sleep (2010)
  • Author(s): Shin Yanagihara, Neal Hessler
  • Organizer: (Abstract) Annual Meeting of Japan Neuroscience Society
  • Place of Presentation: Kobe, Japan
  • Year and Date: 20100902-20100904
• [Presentation] 「ソングバード大脳基底核のさえずり行動中および睡眠中の神経活動」大脳皮質-大脳基底核連関と前頭葉機能(第3回) (2009)
  • Author(s): 柳原真
  • Organizer: 平成21年度生理学研究所研究会
  • Place of Presentation: 自然科学研究機構・生理学研究所、愛知県岡崎市
  • Year and Date: 20091126-20091127
• [Presentation] Singing-and sleep-related neuronal activity in songbird basal ganglia (2009)
  • Author(s): Shin Yanagihara, Neal Hessler
  • Organizer: (Abstract) Annual Meeting of Society for Neuroscience
  • Place of Presentation: Chicago, USA
  • Year and Date: 20091017-20091021
• [Presentation] Singing-and sleep-related neuronal activity in basal ganglia of songbird during sensorimotor learning period. (2009)
  • Author(s): Shin Yanagihara, Neal Hessler
  • Organizer: (Abstract) Annual Meeting of Japan Neuroscience Society
  • Place of Presentation: Nagoya, Japan
  • Year and Date: 20090916-20090918
• [Presentation] Singing-related neural activity in basal ganglia of juvenile songbird. (2008)
  • Author(s): Shin Yanagihara, Neal Hessler
  • Organizer: The 30^<th> Annual Meeting for The Japanese Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry
  • Place of Presentation: Sapporo, Japan(Invited talk)
  • Year and Date: 20080719-20080721