CAREER: Neural Basis of Social Behavior in Songbirds

鸣禽拥有一种非人类动物中罕见的天赋：学习复杂发声的能力。控制歌曲学习和产生的大脑区域系统可能已经成为研究复杂学习行为的神经基础的最流行的模型。尽管它很受欢迎，但很少有研究人员调查过该系统是如何与大脑外部区域联系并受其影响的。歌曲只在特定的社会环境中产生，毫无疑问，它在一定程度上是由大脑区域的一个独特网络控制的，该网络涉及一般的社会行为调节。在这里，PI提议在鸣禽中绘制这种“社会行为网络”，并探索它如何影响鸣声及其感知。神经解剖学方法将用于识别这些区域之间的联系，并确定网络中的哪些脑细胞和蛋白质参与了歌唱和其他社会行为。通过将调节社会行为的大脑区域与处理社会信息的大脑区域连接起来，该项目有效地融合了认知神经科学和情感神经科学。研究结果将帮助我们理解大脑是如何感知社会线索的，以及它是如何组织和实施适当的社会反应的。PI的多学科方法提供了令人兴奋的教学机会，以培养各种实验室和现场技术的新科学家，并挑战学生在许多层面上提出问题，从分子到进化。该教学计划强调写作技巧，并包括开发新的科学写作密集型课程。该项目希望帮助培养未来的科学家进行有效的交流，不仅是相互之间，而且是与公众之间。

Songbirds possess a talent rare among non-human animals: the ability to learn complex vocalizations. The system of brain regions that controls the learning and production of song has become perhaps the most popular model for studying the neural basis of a complex learned behavior. Despite this popularity, few researchers have investigated how the song system is connected to and affected by brain regions outside it. Song is produced only in specific social contexts, and is undoubtedly controlled in part by a distinct network of brain regions involved in the regulation of social behavior in general. Here, the PI proposes to map this "social behavior network" in songbirds and explore how it affects song and its perception. Neuroanatomical methods will be used to identify connections among these regions, and to determine which brain cells and proteins in the network participate in song and other social behaviors. By connecting brain areas that mediate social behavior with those processing social information, the project effectively merges cognitive and affective neuroscience. The results will help us understand how the brain perceives social cues as well as how it organizes and implements an appropriate social response. The PI's multi-disciplinary approach offers exciting pedagogical opportunities to train new scientists in a variety of laboratory and field techniques, and challenges students to ask questions on many levels, from molecular to evolutionary. The teaching plan emphasizes writing skills, and includes development of new writing-intensive courses in the sciences. The PI hopes to help train future scientists to communicate effectively, not only with each other, but also with the public.