A juvenile locomotor program promotes vocal learning in zebra finches.

ABSTRACT: The evolution and development of complex, learned motor skills are thought to be closely associated with other locomotor movement and cognitive functions. However, it remains largely unknown how different neuromuscular programs may interconnect during the protracted developmental process. Here we use a songbird to examine the behavioral and neural substrates between the development of locomotor movement and vocal-motor learning. Juvenile songbirds escalate their locomotor activity during the sensitive period for vocal learning, followed by a surge of vocal practice. Individual variability of locomotor production is positively correlated with precision of tutor imitation and duration of multi-syllable sequences. Manipulation of juvenile locomotion significantly impacts the precision of voca

SUBMITTER: Liu WC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9187677 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature