Mechanisms Underlying the Development of Auditory Perce*

P.I.建议研究听觉知觉在斑马鸣鸟发声学习中的中介作用 芬奇。年轻的雄性斑马雀从成年模特那里学习歌曲，是通过模仿 类似于人类的语音习得。和人类一样，标准的发声学习依赖于两个阶段 学习的力量。第一阶段包括为正确的歌曲模型建立听觉记忆。这个 第二阶段包括发声练习，在这个阶段中，幼鸟进行比较、匹配，最终完善 他的输出符合模型歌曲的感官表现(类似于人类的喋喋不休 在可识别的语音产生之前的婴儿)。拟议的实验将使用神经生理学和 用行为学方法进一步了解这些听觉记忆形成的机制 以及这些记忆的质量如何与声乐学习的质量相关。具体地说，私家侦探将： 1)研究早期暴露的行为背景对听觉记忆形成的影响 实时测量知觉调谐如何在听觉处理和辨别中起中介作用 发声研究听觉记忆的发展，因为它们与幼鸟的发声模仿有关 在声乐学习期间。这里提出的研究将解决基本问题。 关于声乐学习和知觉调谐在发展过程中的相互作用。因此，这些发现 这项研究将为我们提供关于听觉体验在感觉发育中的作用的见解。 听觉感知发展和影响发声行为的机制尚未完全阐明。 明白了。通过研究具有相似特征的物种的感知和发声学习 人类的语音学习，我们希望提供有关如何倾听和互动的信息 发育过程中的声音会影响这些信号的最终处理和产生

The P.I. proposes to study the role of auditory perception in mediating vocal learning in a songbird, the zebra finch. Young male zebra finches learn their songs from adult models through a process of imitation that resembles human speech acquisition. As in humans, normative vocal learning is dependent on two phases of learning. The first phase consists of establishing an auditory memory for the correct song model. The second phase involves of vocal practice in which the young bird compares, matches, and eventually refines his output to conform to the sensory representation of the model song (similar to the babbling that human infants prior to recognizable speech production). The proposed experiments will use neurophysiological and behavioral methods to further understand the mechanisms driving the formation of these auditory memories and how the quality of these memories relates to the quality of the vocal learning. Specifically, the P.I. will: 1) study the influence of the behavioral context during early exposure on auditory memory formation 2) measure in real time how perceptual tuning mediates auditory processing and discrimination for conspecific vocalizations 3) study the development of auditory memories as they relate to vocal imitation in young birds during the period of vocal learning. The research presented here will address fundamental questions regarding the interplay between vocal learning and perceptual tuning in development. Thus, the findings from this research will provide us with insights into the role of auditory experience on sensory development. The mechanisms by which auditory perception develops and affects vocal behavior has yet to been fully understood. By studying perception and vocal learning in a species that share similar characteristics to human speech learning, we hope to provide information on how listening to and interacting with relevant sounds during development affect the eventual processing and production of these signals