Sensory Motor Representation of a Learned Skill

超出所提供的空间。P.I.建议研究一种鸣禽斑胸草雀的声音交流的神经基础。鸣禽在社会和繁殖环境中使用发声与同种进行交流。幼鸟通过模仿的过程从外部导师那里学习这些发声，这类似于人类的语言习得。鸣禽前脑中的特殊结构参与发声和声音信号的感觉处理。鸣禽大脑中的发声控制系统是人类语言学习的最佳动物模型。拟议的实验将使用神经生理学和行为学方法来分析这些已识别结构在常见的雀行为中的作用，其中一只鸟听到另一只鸟的叫声时会发出叫声。所描述的项目将检查的方式，同种声乐通信信号表示在神经活动中的两个结构在端脑：一个是在最后的声乐运动通路，另一个是听觉整合区。具体来说，PI将：1）比较几种行为情况下发声运动系统的听觉处理; 2）检查发声运动输出产生中涉及的神经过程; 3）研究识别同种信号的听觉处理; 4）研究幼鸟在发声学习期间这些过程的发展。这些结果将进一步加深我们对听到同种声音信号如何导致鸣禽产生响应性发声的理解，也可能揭示将感觉信号转化为熟练运动反应的基本神经过程。性能现场=

EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED. The P.I.proposes to study the neural basis of vocal communication in a songbird, the zebra finch. Songbirds use vocalizations to communicate with conspecifics in social and reproductive contexts. Young birds learn many of these vocalizations from external tutors through a process of imitation that resembles human speech acquisition. Specialized structures in the songbird forebrain are involved in vocal production and in sensory processing of vocal signals. The vocal control system in the songbird brain is the best developed animal model for human speech learning. The proposed experiments will use neurophysiological and behavioral methods to analyze the roles of these identified structures in a common finch behavior in which one bird calls in response to hearing the call of another bird. The projects described will examine the way that conspecific vocal communication signals are represented hi neural activity in two of these structures in the telencephalon: one is on the final vocal motor pathway, and the other is an auditory integration area. Specifically, the P.I.will: 1) compare auditory processing in the vocal motor system in several behavioral situations; 2) examine neural processes involved in production of the vocal motor output; 3) study auditory processing that underlies the discrimination of conspecific signals; and 4) study the development of these processes in young birds during the period of vocal learning. The results will further our understanding of how hearing conspecific vocal signals leads to the production of responsive vocalizations in songbirds, and may also shed light on fundamental neural processes involved in translating a sensory signal into a skilled motor response. PERFORMANCE SITE ========================================Section End===========================================