Developmental difference of neural functions in the song and call control system in Bengalese finches

In Bengalese finches, the maturation of distance calls and the stabilization of their song are obtained through developmental learning stages. In this study, whole cell patch clamp recordings were made from neurons in the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA), which is a motor control nucleus of male-specific vocalization in male birds of different developmental stages. The neurons in the RA were categorized into three types according to their electrophysiological properties under voltage clamp recordings. Distribution ratios of the neuron types changed during development. The firing pattern of these neurons was highly co-related with the expression of slow-inactivated (SI) type outward current. In this study, we first showed that the developmental change of the neural circuit in the RA was induced by the expression of the SI-type outward current.