Singing-related activity in anterior forebrain of male zebra finches reflects courtship motivation for target females.

ABSTRACT: A critical function of singing by male songbirds is to attract a female mate. Previous studies have suggested that the anterior forebrain system is involved in this courtship behavior. Neural activity in this system, including the striatal Area X, is strikingly dependent on the function of male singing. When males sing to attract a female bird rather than while alone, less variable neural activity results in less variable song spectral features, which may be attractive to the female. These characteristics of neural activity and singing thus may reflect a male's motivation for courtship. Here, we compared the variability of neural activity and song features between courtship singing directed to a female with whom a male had previously formed a pair-bond or to other females. Surprisingly, ac

SUBMITTER: Iwasaki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3843691 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature