Variation in sequence dynamics improves maintenance of stereotyped behavior in an example from bird song

Significance In this work, we show a way by which the nervous system maintains precise, stereotyped behavior in the face of environmental and neural changes. Through a model of bird song learning, we show how instability in neural representation of stable behavior can allow a system to more readily adapt and maintain performance with minimal cost. In this perspective, behaviors are made more robust to environmental change by continually seeking subtly new ways of performing the same task. Thus, one should expect to find variability in neural systems executing stereotyped behaviors, and this variability can serve a constructive role in maintaining skilled behavior.