Scharff C, Nottebohm F, Cynx J
Rockfeller University Field Research Center, Millbrook, New York 12545, USA.
J Neurobiol. 1998 Jul;36(1):81-90.
Adult zebra finches can produce normal song in the absence of Area X, IMAN, or DLM, nuclei that constitute the anterior forebrain pathway of songbirds. Here, we address whether lesions involving Area X and IMAN affect adult male zebra finches' ability to discriminate between conspecific or heterospecific songs. Intact birds and lesioned birds were trained on an operant GO/NOGO conditioning paradigm to discriminate between hetero- or conspecific songs. Both lesioned and intact birds were able to learn all discriminations. Lesioned and intact birds performed equivalently on canary song discriminations. In contrast, discriminations involving bird's own song took significantly more trails to learn for lesioned birds than for intact birds. Discrimination between conspecific songs in general also took longer in the lesioned birds, but missed significance level. Birds with control lesions medial to Area X did not show any differences from intact animals. Our results suggest that an intact anterior forebrain pathway is not required to discriminate between heterospecific songs. In contrast, Area X and IMAN contribute to a male zebra finch's ability to discriminate between its own song and that of other zebra finches.
成年斑胸草雀在没有X区、IMAN或DLM（构成鸣禽前脑通路的核团）的情况下也能唱出正常的歌曲。在此，我们探讨涉及X区和IMAN的损伤是否会影响成年雄性斑胸草雀区分同种或异种歌曲的能力。完整的鸟和受损的鸟接受操作性“是/否”条件训练范式，以区分异种或同种歌曲。受损的鸟和完整的鸟都能够学会所有的区分。在金丝雀歌曲区分测试中，受损的鸟和完整的鸟表现相当。相比之下，对于受损的鸟来说，涉及自身歌曲的区分学习所需的试验次数比完整的鸟显著更多。一般来说，受损鸟区分同种歌曲的时间也更长，但未达到显著水平。X区内侧有对照损伤的鸟与完整动物没有任何差异。我们的结果表明，区分异种歌曲不需要完整的前脑通路。相比之下，X区和IMAN有助于雄性斑胸草雀区分自己的歌曲和其他斑胸草雀的歌曲。
