Functional changes in field L complex during song development of juvenile male zebra finches

• Published in: Brain research. Developmental brain research 2000-12, Vol.125 (1), p.153-165
• Main Authors: Gehr, Daniel D, Hofer, Sonja B, Marquardt, Dominik, Leppelsack, Hans-Joachim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Auditory cortex analogue; Auditory maturation; Auditory Pathways - cytology; Auditory Pathways - growth & development; Auditory Pathways - physiology; Auditory Perception; Brain Mapping; Electrophysiology; Male; Neostriatum; Neostriatum - cytology; Neostriatum - growth & development; Neostriatum - physiology; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Plasticity; song control nuclei; Songbird; Songbirds - physiology; Vocalization, Animal - physiology
• ISSN: 0165-3806
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-3806(00)00131-0

The field L complex is the highest station of the ascending auditory pathway and is thought to be the input stage of auditory information into the song system in birds. Multi-unit recordings were performed in awake, socially reared zebra finches, 30 and 60 days of age. The responses of the field L complex to synthetic and natural stimuli during important periods of song learning were investigated. According to neural responses in field L, three different functional areas could be distinguished, NA-L 30, NA2b 30 and NA2c 30, in 30 days old birds. In 60 days old birds five different functional areas, NA-L 60, NA2a 60, NA2b 60, NA2c 60 and NA3 60, were recognised. Especially, NA-L increases its functional volume between the developmental stages. The different areas showed already mature neuronal response behaviours. No preference for a certain song type could be found at all ages. The incomplete functional organisation of the field L complex in young birds (30 days) is a possible reason for the nonselectivity in the song system at this age.