Hemispheric asymmetry of calbindin-positive neurons is associated with successful song imitation.

ABSTRACT: The plasticity that facilitates learning during critical (sensitive) periods in development is tightly regulated by inhibitory neurons. Song acquisition in birds is one example of a learning process that occurs during a sensitive period early in development. Sensory experience with a song 'tutor' during this sensitive period prunes excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the song production nucleus HVC (proper noun). Neurons in the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), a secondary auditory region, lose their tutor song selectivity when gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling is blocked. Given the importance of inhibition in the song learning process, we investigated whether individual differences in learning outcomes can be explained by the distribution of specific populations of (mostly) inhibito

SUBMITTER: Pagliaro AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7060817 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature