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Decrystallization of adult birdsong by perturbation of auditory feedback

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony Leonardo

    (MC 216-76, California Institute of Technology)

  • Masakazu Konishi

    (MC 216-76, California Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Young birds learn to sing by using auditory feedback to compare their own vocalizations to a memorized or innate song pattern; ifthey are deafened as juveniles, they will not develop normal songs1,2. The completion of song development is called crystallization. After this stage, song shows little variation in its temporal or spectral properties. However, the mechanisms underlying this stability are largely unknown. Here we present evidence that auditory feedback is actively used in adulthood to maintain the stability of song structure. We found that perturbing auditory feedback during singing in adult zebra finches caused their songto deteriorate slowly. This ‘decrystallization’ consisted of a marked loss of the spectral and temporal stereotypy seen in crystallized song, including stuttering, creation, deletion and distortion ofsong syllables. After normal feedback was restored, these deviations gradually disappeared and the original song was recovered. Thus, adult birds that do not learn new songs nevertheless retain a significant amount of plasticity in the brain.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Leonardo & Masakazu Konishi, 1999. "Decrystallization of adult birdsong by perturbation of auditory feedback," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6735), pages 466-470, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:399:y:1999:i:6735:d:10.1038_20933
    DOI: 10.1038/20933
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabian Heim & Ezequiel Mendoza & Avani Koparkar & Daniela Vallentin, 2024. "Disinhibition enables vocal repertoire expansion after a critical period," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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