Neurotensin neural mRNA expression correlates with vocal communication and other highly-motivated social behaviors in male European starlings.

ABSTRACT: Vocalizations coordinate social interactions in many species and often are important for behaviors such as mate attraction or territorial defense. Although the neural circuitry underlying vocal communication is well-known for some animal groups, such as songbirds, the motivational processes that regulate vocal signals are not as clearly understood. Neurotensin (NT) is a neuropeptide implicated in motivation that can modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons. Dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are key to mediating highly motivated, goal-directed behaviors, including sexually-motivated birdsong. However, the role of NT in modifying vocal communication or other social behaviors has not been well-studied. Here in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) we analyzed

SUBMITTER: Merullo DP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4586409 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature