Functional MRI of the zebra finch brain during song stimulation suggests a lateralized response topography.

ABSTRACT: Electrophysiological and activity-dependent gene expression studies of birdsong have contributed to the understanding of the neural representation of natural sounds. However, we have limited knowledge about the overall spatial topography of song representation in the avian brain. Here, we adapt the noninvasive functional MRI method in mildly sedated zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) to localize and characterize song driven brain activation. Based on the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal, we observed a differential topographic responsiveness to playback of bird's own song, tutor song, conspecific song, and a pure tone as a nonsong stimulus. The bird's own song caused a stronger response than the tutor song or tone in higher auditory areas. This effect was more pronounced in the med

SUBMITTER: Voss HU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1965570 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature