Precise auditory–vocal mirroring in neurons for learned vocal communication
Nature 451, 305-310 (17 January 2008)
doi:10.1038/nature06492
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v451/n7176/full/nature06492.html
J. F. Prather, S. Peters, S. Nowicki & R. Mooney
Brain mechanisms for communication must establish a correspondence between
sensory and motor codes used to represent the signal. One idea is that this
correspondence is established at the level of single neurons that are active
when the individual performs a particular gesture or observes a similar gesture
performed by another individual. Although neurons that display a precise
auditory–vocal correspondence could facilitate vocal communication, they have
yet to be identified. Here we report that a certain class of neurons in the
swamp sparrow forebrain displays a precise auditory–vocal correspondence. We
show that these neurons respond in a temporally precise fashion to auditory
presentation of certain note sequences in this songbird's repertoire and to
similar note sequences in other birds' songs. These neurons display nearly
identical patterns of activity when the bird sings the same sequence, and
disrupting auditory feedback does not alter this singing-related activity, in
dicating it is motor in nature. Furthermore, these neurons innervate striatal
structures important for song learning, raising the possibility that
singing-related activity in these cells is compared to auditory feedback to
guide vocal learning.
See also:
Editor's summary
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v451/n7176/edsumm/e080117-07.html
Listen and learn
The 'mirror' neurons found in primates allow an individual to mimic or mirror
another's behaviour, as they fire when a specific action, such as a hand
gesture, is either performed or observed. A prime example of mimicry is vocal
learning, as in human speech and birdsong. An obvious job for mirror neurons
perhaps, but until now no auditory-vocal mirror neurons had been reported. Now,
in a study of the swamp sparrow, a bird that resembles humans in its dependence
on auditory experience to learn its vocal repertoire, a class of forebrain
neurons specialized for auditory-vocal monitoring has been identified. They
have virtually the same response to a given note sequence, whether performed or
heard.
News and Views
Behavioural neuroscience: Neurons of imitation p249
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v451/n7176/full/451249a.html
Ofer Tchernichovski & Josh Wallman
In songbirds, a class of neurons shows a striking similarity in activity when
the bird sings and when it hears a similar song. This mirroring neuronal
activity could contribute to imitation.
Enjoy!
Xiao
XIAO, Jianqiang, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Psychology Department
Rutgers University
152 Frelinghuysen Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854
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