Bird Song: Learning, Perception and Function

鸟鸣具有相当广泛的科学意义，因为它 被证明是唯一最好的模型系统，涉及一个 自然发生的复杂行为，（a）学习的研究，和 (b)大脑行为关系的研究。 此外还有 鸟类的歌声和人类的语言有许多惊人的相似之处， 包括发育和神经方面的相似性 本 研究方法是独特的，考虑到歌曲的传播系统， 从感性的角度来看。 以前的研究集中在 信号，并且通常忽略对 这些信号通过动物的感官知觉系统传递。 这种方法 是不完整的，如果动物认为他们的 信号系统与人类不同，这很可能是 许多动物的交流系统，特别是鸟类的歌声。 近年来，研究人员开发了一些方法， 表征动物的一组刺激的感知维度 通过训练它来指示一对 刺激集合中所有可能的配对。 这种方法和相关的 方法将被用来映射歌曲系统的感知维度 一种有着特别复杂多样的 歌 研究经验在正常发展中的作用 歌曲的经验，鸟类提出与鸟类提出没有听力 正常物种的鸣叫将被比较。 初步数据显示， 后一种鸟在成年时会唱一种不正常的歌， 它们的歌声感知也不正常。 此外，相关性 歌曲体验、歌曲感知和 大脑中的歌曲中心将被确定。 因此本研究 将促进我们对这一模型的理解并增加其实用性 通过提供关于迄今为止被忽视的感知的信息， 歌曲学习的一面

Bird song is of considerable general scientific interest because it has proved to be the single best model system, involving a naturally-occurring complex behavior, for (a) the study of learning, and (b) the study of brain-behavior relationships. In addition, there are many surprising parallels between bird song and human language, including developmental and neurological similarities. The present research approach is unique in considering the song communication system from a perceptual point of view. Previous research has focussed on the signals, and has generally ignored the transformations performed on these signals by the animal's sensory-perceptual system. This approach is incomplete and potentially misleading if the animals perceive their signal systems differently from humans, as is very likely the case for many animal communication systems, and for bird song in particular. Methods have been developed in recent years that allow a researcher to characterize the perceptual dimensions of a set of stimuli for an animal by training it to indicate the perceived similarity between a pair of stimuli for all possible pairs in the set. This approach and related methods will be used to map the perceptual dimensions of the song system of the Song Sparrow, a species with a particularly complex and varied song. To examine the role of experience in the development of normal song experience, birds raised with and birds raised without hearing normal species song will be compared. Preliminary data has shown that the latter birds sing an abnormal song as adults and it is expected that their song perception is abnormal as well. In addition, correlations between song experience, song perception and the relative development of song centers in the brain will be determined. Therefore this research will advance our understanding and increase the utility of this model system by providing information on the heretofore neglected perceptual side of song learning.