Ann. Méd. Vét., 2010, 154 (1), pp 48-60 The song control system of the adult songbird : a model for neuronal
plasticityBOSERET G., BECKERS J.-F.Abstract :
In many songbirds species, wherein
we can find the domestic canary (Serinus canaria), singing is generally produced either to defend a territory or to attract a mate. The Song Control System is a neural specialization, mostly located in telencephalic regions
of the brain and associated to the control of song learning, perception
and production. External factors such as testosterone, photoperiod and social cues have been described to modulate
singing behaviour.
Parallel to the song behaviour, some of the song control system nuclei (HVC, RA and Area X) demonstrate a puzzling amount of seasonal plasticity. Their volumes varies seasonally based on
changes in cell spacing, neuropile
size, dendritic arborisation and in the case on the nidopallial nucleus HVC on the incorporation of newborn neurons.
We present here a review of this
curious phenomenon of adult
neuroplasticity associated to a complex behaviour, that does not occur to such an extent in the mammallian brain. Get the PDF Contact person : jfbeckers@ulg.ac.be |