Oxytocin receptor antagonism during early vocal learning reduces song preference and imitation in zebra finches.

ABSTRACT: In species with vocal learning, acquiring species-typical vocalizations relies on early social orienting. In songbirds, for example, learning song requires dynamic social interactions with a "tutor" during an early sensitive period. Here, we hypothesized that the attentional and motivational processes that support song learning recruit the oxytocin system, which is well-understood to play a role in social orienting in other species. Juvenile male zebra finches naïve to song were each tutored by two unfamiliar adult males. Before exposure to one tutor, juveniles were injected subcutaneously with oxytocin receptor antagonist (OTA; ornithine vasotocin) and before exposure to the other, saline (control). Treatment with OTA reduced behaviors associated with approach and attention during tutorin

SUBMITTER: Pilgeram NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10185528 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature