Identification of a motor-to-auditory pathway important for vocal learning

Todd F. Roberts, Erin Hisey, Masashi Tanaka, Matthew G. Kearney, Gaurav Chattree, Cindy F. Yang, Nirao M. Shah, Richard Mooney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

Learning to vocalize depends on the ability to adaptively modify the temporal and spectral features of vocal elements. Neurons that convey motor-related signals to the auditory system are theorized to facilitate vocal learning, but the identity and function of such neurons remain unknown. Here we identify a previously unknown neuron type in the songbird brain that transmits vocal motor signals to the auditory cortex. Genetically ablating these neurons in juveniles disrupted their ability to imitate features of an adult tutor's song. Ablating these neurons in adults had little effect on previously learned songs but interfered with their ability to adaptively modify the duration of vocal elements and largely prevented the degradation of songs' temporal features that is normally caused by deafening. These findings identify a motor to auditory circuit essential to vocal imitation and to the adaptive modification of vocal timing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)978-986
Number of pages9
JournalNature neuroscience
Volume20
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 27 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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