Motor pathway convergence predicts syllable repertoire size in oscine birds.

ABSTRACT: Behavioral specializations are frequently associated with expansions of the brain regions controlling them. This principle of proper mass spans sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities and has been observed in a wide variety of vertebrate species. Yet, it is unknown if this concept extrapolates to entire neural pathways or how selection on a behavioral capacity might otherwise shape circuit structure. We investigate these questions by comparing the songs and neuroanatomy of 49 species from 17 families of songbirds, which vary immensely in the number of unique song components they produce and possess a conserved neural network dedicated to this behavior. We find that syllable repertoire size is strongly related to the degree of song motor pathway convergence. Repertoire size is more accurate

SUBMITTER: Moore JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3182746 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature