Functional plasticity of auditory and visual systems of songbirds in a seasonal context.

Songbirds exhibit seasonal plasticity in a broad variety of behavioral and morphological traits associated with reproduction. Changes in song production are well described while changes in song perception are not. In the present project, we will study the seasonal functional variation in auditory processing of the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We will test if the neural substrates of song perception will differ according to the function and the social value of the songs and if seasonal changes of these neural substrates will be observed only for the songs whose function and social value change seasonally. Because we suspect steroids to be involved in the seasonal changes we measure, the neural substrates of song perception will also be investigated after administering steroids. We expect at least some of the seasonalchanges to be reproduced by steroid hormones, providing a causal link between steroids and perceptual sensory plasticity. An anatomical seasonal plasticity in the visual system's optic chiasm has also been identified in starlings. The exact ultrastructural explanation/mechanism behind this remarkable change however remains unknown. In a second part of this project we will study the exact mechanisms responsible for seasonal anatomical variation in the optic chiasm.

Keywords:PLASTICITY, SONGBIRDS

Disciplines:Animal biology, General biology, Medical imaging and therapy, Other paramedical sciences, Veterinary medicine

Project type:Collaboration project