Collaborative Research: Defining the neurobiological requirements for vocal learning in birds

合作研究：定义鸟类发声学习的神经生物学要求

• 批准号: 1456356
• 负责人: David Perkel
• 金额: $ 29.2万
• 依托单位: University of Washington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-09-01 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1456356&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Defining; neurobiological; requirements

Hummingbirds, songbirds and parrots learn their vocalizations from adults, just like human infants learn to speak by imitating their parents' speech. This capacity provides the basis for how humans acquire speech and language, yet how the brain achieves this goal is unknown. Using an array of powerful techniques, this collaborative project will examine the anatomical, electrical, and molecular properties of brain circuits that control vocalizations in hummingbirds and songbirds, comparing them with each other and with prior human studies. Understanding how these different organisms evolved brain circuits to accomplish similar goals will reveal insights into fundamental properties of vocal learning systems. Traditional lab animals cannot be used as they lack vocal learning; hence, the use of vocal learner birds is critical. The project will provide training in multiple research techniques to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, emphasizing underrepresented groups. It will also promote broad dissemination of findings and outreach activities, related to both scientific and conservation efforts. The project is also integrated with an International Consortium (funded by the Brazilian Government) for cataloguing and characterizing the diversity of tropical birds, including integration of Museum collections, generation of genome sequences, and examination of brain specimens relevant to the evolution of vocal learning. These activities will enable interactions between US and Brazilian faculty and students, while promoting training in molecular and histological methods through site visits, field trips, and workshops.The vocal control system of songbirds is critical for song production and learning, and is well characterized anatomically, electrophysiologically, and molecularly. However, knowledge of the analogous areas in other avian vocal learners is limited. Recent phylogenomics efforts reveal that hummingbirds evolved vocal learning independently of songbirds; thus, comparing their vocal control systems will reveal convergently evolved features that may be fundamentally required for this trait. The investigators will use tract-tracing to determine how vocal control areas are connected in hummingbirds, in vitro electrophysiological recordings to determine intrinsic neuronal properties of vocal areas in hummingbirds and songbirds, and in situ hybridization to identify molecular markers of vocal nuclei. Evidence of shared anatomical, physiological and molecular specializations will point to convergent features representing possible universal properties of vocal learning systems that may also be shared with humans. Alternatively, differences would suggest that multiple circuit and cellular/molecular architectures can subserve vocal learning. Outcomes will provide novel clues as to evolutionary origins and constraints of vocal learning and associated pathways, leading to insights into fundamental requirements of vocal learning.

蜂鸟、鸣禽和鹦鹉从成年人那里学习发声，就像人类婴儿通过模仿父母的讲话来学习说话一样。这种能力为人类如何获得言语和语言提供了基础，但大脑如何实现这一目标尚不清楚。使用一系列强大的技术，这个合作项目将检查控制蜂鸟和鸣禽发声的大脑回路的解剖学，电学和分子特性，将它们相互比较并与先前的人类研究进行比较。了解这些不同的生物体如何进化大脑回路来实现类似的目标，将揭示对声乐学习系统基本特性的见解。 传统的实验室动物无法使用，因为它们缺乏发声学习能力;因此，使用发声学习鸟至关重要。该项目将为高中生、本科生和研究生提供多种研究技术的培训，重点是代表性不足的群体。它还将促进广泛传播与科学和养护工作有关的调查结果和外联活动。该项目还与一个国际联盟（由巴西政府资助）相结合，对热带鸟类的多样性进行编目和定性，包括整合博物馆收藏品，生成基因组序列，以及检查与声乐学习进化有关的大脑标本。这些活动将使美国和巴西的教师和学生之间的互动，同时促进通过现场访问，实地考察，和workshops.The鸣禽的发声控制系统的分子和组织学方法的培训是至关重要的歌曲生产和学习，并在解剖学，电生理学和分子特征。然而，其他鸟类发声学习者对类似区域的了解有限。最近的基因组学研究表明，蜂鸟进化的声音学习独立的鸣禽，因此，比较他们的声音控制系统将揭示收敛进化的功能，可能是从根本上需要这种特性。研究人员将使用追踪来确定蜂鸟的发声控制区域是如何连接的，体外电生理记录来确定蜂鸟和鸣禽发声区域的内在神经元特性，以及原位杂交来确定发声核的分子标记。共享的解剖学，生理学和分子专业化的证据将指向收敛的功能，代表可能的普遍性质的声乐学习系统，也可能与人类共享。或者，差异表明，多个电路和细胞/分子结构可以帮助声乐学习。结果将提供新的线索，进化的起源和限制的声乐学习和相关的途径，导致洞察声乐学习的基本要求。