The Morphology and Axonal Organization of Single Neurons Involved in Sensory/Motor Integration in the Song System

神经行为学中最令人兴奋和富有成果的模型系统之一是习得的鸟类鸣叫。成年雄性鸣禽有独特的鸣叫声，用来保卫领地和吸引配偶。这些歌曲的产生是在一个复杂的脑核系统的控制下进行的，这个系统的发展与结晶（非塑性）歌曲的出现是平行的。这些发育过程受听觉反馈和类固醇激素的影响。美国国家科学基金会的这笔拨款将使Margoliash博士能够购买设备，建立一种追踪这些脑核之间联系的新方法。利用这些新颖的技术，他将能够确定听觉信息是如何从感觉核传递到塑造歌曲的执行系统的。这些信息将对我们理解复杂行为的发展、性别分化以及反馈控制神经网络和机器人系统的设计具有重要意义

9309771 Margoliash One of the most exciting and fruitful model systems in neuroethology is learned bird song. Adult male songbirds have unique song repertoires which they use to defend territories and attract mates. Production of these songs is under the control of an elaborate system of brain nuclei whose development parallels the emergence of crystalized (nonplastic) song. These developmental processes are influenced by auditory feedback and steroid hormones. This NSF grant will enable Dr. Margoliash to purchase equipment to set up a novel method of tracing the connections between these brain nuclei. Using these novel techniques he will be able to determine how auditory information is transmitted from the sensory nuclei to the executive system that patterns song. This information will be important for our understanding of the development of complex behaviors, sexual differentiation and the design of feedback controlled neural networks and robotics systems.***