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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) with Auditory Stimulation in Songbirds

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Magnetic field changes activate the trigeminal brainstem complex in a migratory bird.

Dominik Heyers¹, Manuela Zapka, Mara Hoffmeister

¹Arbeitsgruppe Neurosensorik/Animal Navigation, Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, University of Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|May 5, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The trigeminal nerve (V1) in European robins is activated by magnetic fields, indicating its role in magnetoreception. This study provides neurobiological evidence for V1

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Area of Science:

Neurobiology
Sensory Neuroscience
Animal Behavior

Background:

Birds possess magnetosensory structures in their upper beak, innervated by the trigeminal nerve (V1).
Previous evidence for the trigeminal nerve's role in avian magnetoreception lacked replicability.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the involvement of the trigeminal nerve in avian magnetoreception.
To identify specific brain regions activated by magnetic fields in European robins.

Main Methods:

Utilized ZENK protein antibody to detect neuronal activation in response to magnetic fields.
Compared neuronal activation in European robins under changing magnetic fields (CMF) versus zero magnetic fields (ZMF).
Performed V1 nerve sectioning and tract tracing to assess nerve pathways and activation.

Main Results:

Significantly more neurons were activated in the trigeminal brainstem complex (PrV and medial SpV) under CMF compared to ZMF.
Sectioning of V1 reduced neuronal activation in PrV and medial SpV under CMF.
Tract tracing revealed proximity of V1 nerve endings and activated neurons in SpV and PrV.

Conclusions:

Magnetic field changes activate neurons in the trigeminal brainstem complex.
The ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve (V1) is necessary for this magnetic activation.
V1 likely transmits magnetic information to the brain in migratory passerine birds.