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Social Brains in Context: Lesions Targeted to the Song Control System in Female Cowbirds Affect Their Social Network

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  • Sarah E Maguire
  • Marc F Schmidt
  • David J White

Abstract

Social experiences can organize physiological, neural, and reproductive function, but there are few experimental preparations that allow one to study the effect individuals have in structuring their social environment. We examined the connections between mechanisms underlying individual behavior and social dynamics in flocks of brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). We conducted targeted inactivations of the neural song control system in female subjects. Playback tests revealed that the lesions affected females' song preferences: lesioned females were no longer selective for high quality conspecific song. Instead, they reacted to all cowbird songs vigorously. When lesioned females were introduced into mixed-sex captive flocks, they were less likely to form strong pair-bonds, and they no longer showed preferences for dominant males. This in turn created a cascade of effects through the groups. Social network analyses showed that the introduction of the lesioned females created instabilities in the social structure: males in the groups changed their dominance status and their courtship patterns, and even the competitive behavior of other female group-mates was affected. These results reveal that inactivation of the song control system in female cowbirds not only affects individual behavior, but also exerts widespread effects on the stability of the entire social system.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah E Maguire & Marc F Schmidt & David J White, 2013. "Social Brains in Context: Lesions Targeted to the Song Control System in Female Cowbirds Affect Their Social Network," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-8, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0063239
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063239
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard H. R. Hahnloser & Alexay A. Kozhevnikov & Michale S. Fee, 2002. "An ultra-sparse code underliesthe generation of neural sequences in a songbird," Nature, Nature, vol. 419(6902), pages 65-70, September.
    2. David J. White & Andrew P. King & Meredith J. West & Julie Gros-Louis & Elaina M. Tuttle, 2010. "Effects of singing on copulation success and egg production in brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 21(2), pages 211-218.
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