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Descending auditory pathways in the adult male zebra finch ( Taeniopygia Guttata )
Author(s) -
Mello Claudio V.,
Vates Edward,
Okuhata Soshi,
Nottebohm Fernando
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19980601)395:2<137::aid-cne1>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - zebra finch , taeniopygia , songbird , neuroscience , vocal learning , biology , midbrain , auditory system , vocal communication , communication , psychology , central nervous system , ecology
Here, we examine the connectivity of two previously identified telencephalic stations of the auditory system of adult zebra finches, the neostriatal “shelf” that underlies the high vocal center (HVC) and the archistriatal “cup” adjacent to the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA). We used different kinds of neuroanatomical tracers to visualize the projections from the shelf to the HVC. In addition, we show that the shelf projects to the cup and that the cup projects to thalamic, midbrain, and pontine nuclei of the ascending auditory pathway. Our observations extend to songbirds anatomical features that are found in the auditory pathways of a nonoscine bird, the pigeon (Wild et al. [1993] J. Comp. Neurol. 337: 32–62), and we suggest that the descending auditory projections found in mammals may also be a general property of the avian brain. Finally, we show that the oscine song control system is closely apposed to auditory pathways at many levels. Our observations may help in understanding the evolution and organization of networks for vocal communication and vocal learning in songbirds. J. Comp. Neurol. 395:137–160, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.