Reafferent thalamo‐“cortical” loops in the song system of oscine songbirds

Journal of Comparative NeurologyVolume 380, Issue 2 p. 275-290 Reafferent thalamo-“cortical” loops in the song system of oscine songbirds G. Edward Vates, Corresponding Author G. Edward Vates vatese@rockvax.ROCKEFELLER.EDU Laboratory of Animal Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021Laboratory of Animal Behavior, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 137, New York, NY, 10021.Search for more papers by this authorDavid S. Vicario, David S. Vicario Laboratory of Animal Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021Search for more papers by this authorFernando Nottebohm, Fernando Nottebohm Laboratory of Animal Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021Search for more papers by this author G. Edward Vates, Corresponding Author G. Edward Vates vatese@rockvax.ROCKEFELLER.EDU Laboratory of Animal Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021Laboratory of Animal Behavior, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 137, New York, NY, 10021.Search for more papers by this authorDavid S. Vicario, David S. Vicario Laboratory of Animal Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021Search for more papers by this authorFernando Nottebohm, Fernando Nottebohm Laboratory of Animal Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021Search for more papers by this author First published: 06 December 1998 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9861(19970407)380:2<275::AID-CNE9>3.0.CO;2-0Citations: 118AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Songbirds have a complex vocal repertoire, much of which is learned by imitation. The vocal motor system of songbirds includes a set of telencephalic pathways dedicated to the acquisition and production of learned song. The main vocal motor pathway goes from the high vocal center (HVC) to the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA), which in turn innervates mesencephalic and medullary nuclei involved in vocalization. We used neural tract tracers (biotinylated dextran amines, fluorescein- and rhodamine-linked dextran amines, and Fluorogold) to show that RA of adult male canaries (Serinus canaria) and zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) sends an ipsilateral projection to the posterior portion of the dorsomedial thalamic nucleus (DMP). DMP projects to the medial portion of the magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (mMAN), which is known to project to HVC, forming a feedback circuit. We also observed that the projection from DMP to mMAN is bilateral. Extracellular multi-unit recordings from awake restrained subjects have demonstrated that mMAN has auditory responses that are selective for the bird's own song. These auditory responses are similar to responses recorded simultaneously in HVC, but with a longer latency, suggesting that mMAN receives auditory information from HVC through the circuit we have described. We also saw a weaker projection from RA to the medial part of the dorsolateral nucleus of the thalamus (DLM), which is known to project to the lateral portion of the magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (lMAN). lMAN is known to project to RA, completing yet another feedback circuit; lMAN is also part of the anterior forebrain pathway, which plays an essential role in song learning. These thalamo-telencephalic circuits are similar to thalamo-cortical circuits found in mammalian motor systems, and we suggest that the signals carried by these loops may be important for song perception, song learning, song production, and/or the bilateral coordination of vocal motor commands. J. Comp. Neurol. 380:275–290, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Citing Literature Volume380, Issue27 April 1997Pages 275-290 RelatedInformation