Neural mechanisms underlying the facilitation of vocal learning in a songbird through tutor-tutee interaction

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06907
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Teikyo University (2021-2022); The University of Tokyo (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Yanagihara Shin 帝京大学, 先端総合研究機構, 講師 (60392156)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 小鳥 / 発声学習 / 聴覚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Juvenile zebra finches learn their songs by listening to their father’s songs and practicing their vocalizations. Although face-to-face communication with the father bird is important for this learning process, the neural mechanism of why face-to-face communication facilitates learning is not known. We tried to understand how the presence of the father bird affects the neural circuits of the juvenile bird's brain to promote vocal learning. We measured neural activity from VTA/SNc and the auditory cortex of young birds during freely behaving conditions and found that the presence of the father bird increased the activity of midbrain dopamine neurons, and dopamine enhanced auditory responses in the auditory cortex. Furthermore, we found that VTA/SNc neurons are involved in the initiation of vocalization and the control of sleep and wakefulness. These findings suggest that dopamine neurons that encode social rewards are involved in song memory formation and promote learning.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

小鳥の発声学習と同様に、ヒト乳幼児における言語学習にも対面コミュニケーションが重要である。本研究では、発声学習に特化した小鳥を対象とすることで、ドーパミンによる大脳聴覚野の神経活動の修飾が対面コミュニケーションによる学習促進効果を支える神経メカニズムであることが示唆された。ヒト乳幼児における言語学習も同様の神経メカニズムによって支えられている可能性がある。